After a long weekend of debating at Spring Creek, the Bishop Manogue Speech and Debate Team has won two sweepstakes bowls, recognizing all the success they’ve enjoyed this year. The Miners took home the third-place Congressional Debate bowl and the third-place Small Schools Sweepstakes bowl.

At the end of every Speech and Debate season, all the winning speeches and debates are tallied into points. The team with the most points in each given event wins the first place trophy, known as a bowl, and the runners-up win second and third place. The total points are also calculated, and teams can win debate, speech, small school, and big school sweepstakes. Bishop Manogue enjoyed considerable success in Congress, with Laila Powell making the podium at four out of the six meets this season. Other members of the team, including Anna Allen and Elijah Burkett, competed in Congress as well, earning more points for the team. Junior Misha Sekhon was present at the awards ceremony, and said about her team’s success this year, “The Spring Creek tournament is something that I look forward to every year. It is so much fun to be able to bond with my teammates and share the excitement of winning bowls!”

Many individuals on the team won at the Spring Creek tournament as well. Elijah Burkett got third place in novice Foreign Extemporaneous Speech, Misha Sekhon won third place for Big Questions debate speaker points, and Sophia Rauenhorst clinched third place senior Lincoln-Douglas debate speaker points. The entire team will compete on March 6-8 at the Districts tournament for a chance to qualify for the National Tournament. Last year, Rauenhorst, Powell, and Simon Moore qualified for Lincoln-Douglas and Congress, respectively. Let’s wish the Miner Speakers and Debaters good luck at this next tournament!