The Sand Lizard Speech and Debate team made their presence felt at the River Valley Speech and Debate League tournament at Morrilton High School on December 5th and 7th, delivering an impressive performance that capped off the first half of their season.
Novice Division Triumphs:
In the Novice division, the Sand Lizards were unbeatable. Max Gamble, Bayleigh Foshee, and Talasia Woods dominated the preliminary rounds, going undefeated through all four matches. Alongside them, Brendan Miller and JaHanna Payton broke into the outrounds. Ultimately JaHanna won the entire novice division. JaHanna’s exceptional weekend didn’t stop there—she also secured 1st place in Storytelling, while Max claimed 1st place Novice Speaker in IPDA Debate.
Varsity Success & National Ranking:
In the Varsity division, Lex Gamble soared above the competition, remaining undefeated in prelims and earning 1st place Varsity Speaker in IPDA Debate. Although he narrowly lost the final round on a 3-2 decision, Lex’s exceptional showing this fall pushed him to a prestigious #41 national ranking with the National Speech and Debate Association. Together with his brother Max—who advanced in every Speech and Acting event—Lex’s performance underscored a rare level of versatility and skill. It’s not often you see one competitor excel in so many categories; having two siblings achieve this simultaneously is a unique accomplishment.
Milestones for Many, Victory for All:
It was a weekend of personal bests and breakthroughs. For the first time, Kole Flippen advanced to the finals in two events, delivering standout performances that raised the bar for the entire team. Bayleigh experienced her first undefeated run through preliminary rounds. In addition to JaHanna, Max, Kole, and Lex, other finalists included Harper Williams, Shaylin Hunt, Brendan Miller, and Bayleigh Foshee, collectively contributing to the team’s incredible 29 top-six placements.
The Definition of Teamwork:
While trophies and top finishes are worth celebrating, Coach Gamble is quick to emphasize that these victories represent a team-wide effort. From Talasia Woods’s undefeated prelims to the continued growth and strong showings by Harper Williams, Brendon Miller, Brendon Bowles, and Christian Javalera, every member played a critical role in securing the team’s first-place Sweepstakes title. This weekend’s performance truly embodied the spirit of teamwork and mutual support.
Looking Ahead to Spring and Beyond:
As this tournament wraps up the first half of the season, the Sand Lizards will enjoy a brief but well-deserved rest before returning to competition in the spring. They will face a busy and exciting schedule with a handful of invitational tournaments, two NSDA district tournaments (one for debate and one for speech and acting), as well as the IPDA High School Nationals at UCA in April, the RVSDL Championship, and the Arkansas State Championship. Adding to the excitement, Lex Gamble has already qualified for NSDA Nationals in World Schools Debate as a competing member of Team Arkansas.
With momentum on their side, the Sand Lizard Speech and Debate team looks ahead to 2024 brimming with confidence and anticipation. They know that this is just the halfway mark. The hardwork and practice will continue till the last round of our season. Congratulations, Sand Lizards, and here’s to an even more remarkable second half of the season!