The Great Bend High School debate team has had an outstanding and packed fall season, bringing home trophies and medals from area tournaments. The team’s argumentation and speaking skills have consistently been ranked high.
On Oct. 12 at the Abilene tournament, Kendra Scheideman and Ellie Damm placed 6th, Analeah and Jordan Ochs took 7th, and Rhys Froetschner and Zachary Hart finished 8th in the Varsity division.
The following week, the Panthers secured a 3rd-place Sweepstakes trophy at the Newton tournament on Oct. 19. In individual achievements, Kendra Scheideman and Kyra Lewis placed 5th in the Junior Varsity division, and Steven Guillory and Diana Stoddard brought home seventh place medals. Guillory was also named 3rd best speaker in the JV division.
The Panthers continued their winning streak on Oct. 26 at the Dodge City tournament, earning another 3rd place Sweepstakes trophy. Individual team members shone brightly, with Sydney Bailey and Ella Nokes achieving 1st place in the Novice division with a 4 win 0 loss record with perfect speaker points, and Hunter McClanahan and Steven Guillory finishing undefeated to claim 1st place in the Junior Varsity division.
Most recently, at the Garden City tournament on Nov. 2, Reese King and Darcy Feist placed 4th in the Varsity division, adding yet another win to the Panthers’ impressive season.
Great Bend High School is thrilled to announce that four talented members of the Panther Debate team have qualified for the Kansas 2-Speaker State Debate Tournament in January. Seniors Analeah Ochs and Reese King, Junior Zachary Hart, and Sophomore Hunter McClanahan have each secured enough wins during the regular season to qualify for the tournament. The team is optimistic that more Panthers will join this list over the next two weeks.
However, the team’s path to state is not yet finalized. These accomplished debaters may ultimately represent GBHS in the 4-speaker division instead, depending on the outcomes of upcoming competitions. The team will compete in late December at the 5A Regional Tournament, where they aim to secure a spot in the 4-speaker State tournament. This format showcases the entire squad’s efforts, with one team debating exclusively on the affirmative side and the other on the negative, putting forth collaborative arguments and research to represent the school’s best. Following Regionals, Coach Kim Heath will have to select the format that will highlight the individual and team strengths of the GBHS debaters as they head to state in January.
“As a coach, I couldn’t be prouder of how unified this team has become,” said Kim Heath, Panther Debate Coach. “Each debater is deeply supportive of one another, whether they’re celebrating a win or learning from a tough round. Every weekend, I see incredible growth in each of them—they’re not only strengthening their own skills but also encouraging their teammates to reach new levels. It’s a team full of dedication, resilience, and kindness, and it’s inspiring to watch them learn and improve together.”
The Panthers will take this weekend off from competition, as many members are involved in the school’s Fall Play. Great Bend High School Theatre will present “I Hate Shakespeare!” by Steph Deferie.
