Chrisman Senior Advances to Speech and Debate Nationals
Story By: Izzy Jaynes
William Chrisman senior Lacey Harris has had a goal of one day qualifying to the National Speech and Debate Tournament for four years.
After a strong performance this past weekend at the Nationals qualifying tournament, Harris, who competes in Lincoln Douglas Debate has earned her a spot at Nationals.
“It is exciting every time one of my students qualifies for nationals, it is an elite honor,” said coach Shelia Holt.
Harris is a four-year debate student who has spent her high school career preparing for and working towards Nationals. She has gone to countless tournaments and spent many hours staying after school to prepare.
”It’s all so surreal,” said Harris, who will be traveling to Birmingham, Alabama for Nationals June 18-23.
Districts from all over the country send only a maximum of their top four debaters in her event, so Harris will be seeing the top debaters in the nation. There will be some tough competition, but she welcomes it.
“With debate being a smaller event you tend to see a lot of the same people, so getting to go to a national tournament with new competition is definitely something I’m looking forward to,” she said.
Holt accredits Harris’ advancement to Nationals largely on her hard work and her ability to take criticism.
Harris says that this has been, “a long journey,” but she is excited for what is to come. She also advises those looking to earn a spot at Nationals to stick with it and try to be original and creative with the cases they prepare.
William Chrisman senior Lacey Harris has had a goal of one day qualifying to the National Speech and Debate Tournament for four years.
After a strong performance this past weekend at the Nationals qualifying tournament, Harris, who competes in Lincoln Douglas Debate has earned her a spot at Nationals.
“It is exciting every time one of my students qualifies for nationals, it is an elite honor,” said coach Shelia Holt.
Harris is a four-year debate student who has spent her high school career preparing for and working towards Nationals. She has gone to countless tournaments and spent many hours staying after school to prepare.
”It’s all so surreal,” said Harris, who will be traveling to Birmingham, Alabama for Nationals June 18-23.
Districts from all over the country send only a maximum of their top four debaters in her event, so Harris will be seeing the top debaters in the nation. There will be some tough competition, but she welcomes it.
“With debate being a smaller event you tend to see a lot of the same people, so getting to go to a national tournament with new competition is definitely something I’m looking forward to,” she said.
Holt accredits Harris’ advancement to Nationals largely on her hard work and her ability to take criticism.
Harris says that this has been, “a long journey,” but she is excited for what is to come. She also advises those looking to earn a spot at Nationals to stick with it and try to be original and creative with the cases they prepare.