The East Marion High School Speech and Debate team traveled to Mississippi State University on Jan. 21 to compete in the Cowbell Classic Tournament, and several members qualified to advance to further competitions.
Arianna Bourne competed with a dramatic interpretation, and Kamryn Graves competed with a humorous interpretation. Brandi Conway and Kyara Hendricks competed with a duo interpretation that propelled the pair into the semifinals.
All four students obtained enough points to qualify for the MHSAA State Competition in Oak Grove in April and the Biloxi Catholic Forensic League National Speech and Debate Tournament in Louisville, Ky. in May.
"This is the first year this group has competed. So the debate team as a whole has done an outstanding job holding their own," Performing Arts Director Gary McCullum said. "They each competed against previous title holders and some with repeated wins."
