CRANDALL,Texas — The Crandall High School Speech and Debate team placed 2nd overall in the University Interscholastic League (UIL) Class 4A Cross Examination Debate and Speech categories with team members taking other top awards and placements all season.
CRANDALL,Texas — The Crandall High School Speech and Debate team placed 2nd overall in the University Interscholastic League (UIL) Class 4A Cross Examination Debate and Speech categories with team members taking other top awards and placements all season.
Leading up to the second place finish, team member Graham Phlieger, a senior, was named the UIL Class 4A State Champion for Informative Extemporaneous Speaking, according to Crandall High School Speech and Debate Coach David Brown. The event allows students 30 minutes to prepare a speech meant to be delivered without notes and covering a plethora of current issues and event topics, stated Brown.
In March, Phlieger and Dakota Chappell, a junior, were also named silver medalists in Class 4A Cross-Examination Debate which is heralded as the University Interscholastic League’s longest-running contest, dating back to 1910, and now regarded as the largest high school debate tournament in the nation. Phlieger was also named the 4th overall speaker at this debate for Class 4A.
Phlieger’s state championship win and Phlieger and Chappell’s silver medal propelled the team into their second place state finish, stated Brown.
“All of the long days, the countless hours of practice, the sheer number of tournaments traveled, all of the pain and stress of losing has led to the most successful season in the school’s history,” stated Brown. “And, I could not be more impressed with the student’s commitment and decorum.”
Brown says, throughout the season, the team has qualified for UIL tournaments, Texas Forensic Association (TFA) tournaments, and the National Speech and Debate Assocaition’s (NSDA) national tournament.
Ryan Jackson, a junior, was a state qualifier in Persuasive Extemporaneous Speaking. Phlieger also placed in the Top 64 in Lincoln-Douglas Debate at a Harvard Debate Tournament in February. Freshman members Keval Patel and Brayden Saulter took Top Overall Speech and Debate team in district competition.
Brown says four students also qualified at the national level this year. Michael Heath and Dakota Chappell, both juniors, qualified in Public Forum Debate, Jackson qualified in Extemporaneous Speaking, and Phlieger qualified in Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
“This year’s success is a testament to the level of perseverance it takes to become a State Champion,” said Brown. “To the few graduating seniors, you will be missed, but this is your time to shine! Thank you for all of the memories!”
