Fourth Straight State Title

Among the many smiles in Spring Valley High School Auditorium Saturday night, the smile of head coach Jared Bushman was especially bright. After all, his Pirate Forensics team had just won its unprecedented fourth-straight Nevada State Championship in the Division II category, the first in his tenure as head coach.

“I’m proud of our team,” Bushman said. “We’ve been inconsistent this year, but from the moment we got on the bus to Vegas, we were enthusiastic and eager to compete.”

The Pirate team got its biggest point contribution from senior Jonathan Oglesby. Oglesby finally won an individual title, winning the Domestic Extemporaneous championship, while also taking fifth in the Senate competition.

Oglesby’s win was a thriller, especially because the MVHS senior was almost mathematically eliminated after the first round. Oglesby, who scored a 4 in his first round, would go 1-1-1 in the State Final.

The senior’s win also allowed Moapa Valley to win the Extemp Team Bowl, given to the highest scoring team in US Extemporaneous. Oglesby’s win, along with freshman Sierra Staley’s high point total, allowed the Pirates to go home with the bowl.

Team captain Josh Chandler also double-broke, taking 4th place in Oratory and 3rd in Duo Interpretation with his partner Josh Garlick. Chandler and Garlick also competed in Public Forum Debate. Moapa Valley also got a point boost from senior Jessica Cameron, who took 4th in Humorous Interpretation. Cameron also got high scores in Dramatic Interpretation.

Several underclassmen also stepped up in Moapa Valley’s win. Sophomore Calvin McMurray qualified to quarterfinals in Lincoln-Douglas Debate, going up against the state’s top debaters. Freshmen Jacob Allum also went to finals, taking 5th place in Expository Speaking, and doing well in Policy Debate with partner Alyssa Ramos.

Besides those going to finals, Moapa Valley got high point totals from non-advancing team members. Zach and Nick Brough took ninth in Duo Interpretation, just missing out on finals. Nick Brough also teamed with Bryan Bischoff in the Congress. Bischoff also competed in Oratory.

Breanna Sheldon and Ricky Glaubitz went 2-2 in Public Forum Debate, contributing several points. Alyssa Zerkle competed in Humorous Interpretation and Policy Debate with partner John Rockenbach, who also competed in Expository. Wendy Cook did Lincoln-Douglas debate, and Alex Averitt competed in Dramatic Interpretation. Josh King spoke in Senate and International Extemporaneous.

Moapa Valley now has the State Record for consecutive championships in the Division II competition.