GRAND JUNCTION — The Central High School Speech and Debate team qualified eight students for the CHSAA State Championship Tournament last weekend in Delta.

There was a large pool of tough competition, but Central was well represented and was the only school to have qualifiers in each of the three debate events, demonstrating the well-rounded nature of the program. The team is now preparing for the National Qualifying Congress Tournament to be held at Pueblo East High School this weekend, and then team members are off to the main national qualifying event in Cañon City on April 4-5.

“We would like to congratulate the students who will undoubtedly represent our school well at the state tournament March 14-15 at Chaparral High School in the Denver Metro Area,” said Tony Bichler, coach.

Those students are: Brianna Whitrock and Nicole Silvano, cross-examination debate; Conner Wilson, Lincoln-Douglas debate (4-0 tourney record); Matt Martinez and Melissa Asay, public forum debate; Max Bohning, foreign extemporaneous speaking; Anne McMahon, National Extemporaneous Speaking; Jennifer Aaberg, interpretation of poetry; Aaron Whitrock, first alternate foreign extemporaneous; Dillon VanGundy, first alternate interpretation of humor; Britny Humphreys, second alternate foreign extemp; Garrett Jensen and Dillon VanGundy, second alternate duo interpretation; and Garrett Jensen, third alternate interpretation of drama.