Speech team successful at Reno tournament

The Central Wyoming College Speech and Debate team returned to campus with several awards in hand following a tournament in Reno, Nevada.


Competing against schools from Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, Idaho, California, Oregon, Arizona, Utah, Illinois and Mississippi, Riley Moore claimed first place in the persuasive speaking event, improving on her fourth place finishes at two previous competitions.


While Moore qualifies for the junior division because she is in the first year of competition at the collegiate level, she competed in the open division at this tournament against students with up to four years of experience. After defeating all of her competitors she was given an award for finishing first overall as well as an award recognizing her as the top junior competitor in the event.


“I haven't won a final's round since I was competing in the novice division during my first year of high school speech and debate, so this win is definitely exciting,” Moore said.

 

In addition to Moore’s two first place awards, CWC’s Mason Webb was also recognized as the top junior competitor in his event, Communication Analysis. His first place award came in an event which asks competitors to analyze a piece of communication using an appropriate theoretical framework, Coach Joshua House explained. “The speech was written entirely by Webb, who chose which communication to analyze as well as what theory of communication might help explain it,” House said. “His weeks of hard work really paid off at this tournament, and set a great example for his teammates.”


Central also found success in the junior division of impromptu speaking thanks to the efforts of Andrew Gallinger. Competing in the largest event at the tournament, Gallinger found himself in fifth place after the three preliminary rounds of the tournament. He parlayed that positioning into a semi-final finish in the event, only narrowly missing out on the final round of competition.


House said the Reno tournament was his team’s most successful outing of the year. “With only a few remaining tournaments we are looking forward to keeping our momentum going and finishing the season on a high note,” he said.