Moapa Valley Progress

Debaters for Moapa Valley High School competed in the last official tournament of the year last week from Thursday, March 31, to Saturday, April 2. The three day tournament held from March 31 to April 2, was for students to qualify for nationals. Moapa Valley representatives competed well and held their own against top-notch debaters from throughout the region.

This tournament is held in a different format than any other tournament. Instead of taking the top competitors and placing them in a finals round, each student has to place third or higher in speech rounds or win debate rounds to continue. If they place fourth or lower, or lose a round, they receive what is known as a “down”. After two downs, competitors must leave the competition.

The first day saw tournament numbers cut from 600 to 300 competitors. But Moapa was able to pass Junior John Rockenbach, senior Calvin McMurray, and sophomore Kenna McMurray through to day 2 in Lincoln-Douglas debate. Kenna McMurray also went through in original oratory, the most competitor-heavy event of the tournament.

John, Calvin, and Kenna survived the second day of the tournament while a further 200 competitors were cut.

On day three, however, both McMurrays fell out of debate on the second round of the day. Rockenbach made it one more round before also falling out.

Kenna McMurray, however, went all the way to finals in Original Oratory. She ended up placing fourth overall after a grueling eight rounds of competition with over fifty competitors. The top three spots qualify for Nationals.

Last week’s Congress debate results were also announced and last year’s Nationals qualifier, Tucker Abbott, placed second this year in his room, one spot away from Nationals. The same was true for Jacob Allum, who also placed second, but competed in a different room against different competition. John Rockenbach was also able to place fourth in Congress. This left Moapa only one spot out of Nationals in three competitions.

Cumulative total year-end awards were also given at this tournament. Moapa Valley brought home third place overall for the year for their Expository team of John Rockenbach, Jacob Allum, and Kenna McMurray. The team brought home this trophy with only three competitors in Expos, competing directly with Green Valley and other large schools’ in this event.

Moapa also brought home the third place trophy in Dramatic Interpretation. This was earned by Dakota Polk, Alyssa Zerkle, and Klystia Williams, based on their performances throughout the year.

“Moapa showed once again that it is quality, not quantity, that really matters,” said Team Captain Calvin McMurray. “We have a great team and we have had an awesome year. I am so proud of everyone that participated. We are a class act admired by other schools because of our ability to put such big numbers on the board with such a small number of competitors. I am proud to be associated with these guys.”