Milbank Higb School debaters began their competitive season at the Roosevelt Roughrider debate contest in Sioux Falls on November 6th. "It was a successful day as the MHS team took the championship in the 10-school Class A Sweepstakes with 135 points. Vermillion was runner-up with 110 points. Harrisburg was third with 65 points. We had a pretty consistent performance across the board so we received points in every division we had entries" noted Head Coach Douglas Tschetter. "Ron Frauenshuh has been a real help as assistant coach again this year. I am really thankful for all the help and guidance he gives the kids."
The top performance of the day was turned in by Seth McDonald, who was competing in his first debate contest. He finished 4-0 in the Novice Lincoln/Douglas division and won the second place award. Nathaniel Steinlicht also was in this division and finished with a 3-1 record. In the Varsity LD division, Jesse Nelson finished 3-1 and Jacob Manlove finished 2-2 in his debut in the Lincoln/Douglas world.
In Policy Debate, sophomores Rebecca Schrupp and Rachel Johannsen were entered in the Junior Varsity division where they finished 2-2. In the Novice Division, affirmative team Emily Pillatzki and Allwin McDonald were 3-1 while Dylan Fox and Taylor Seehafer were 1-3. Negative teams were Morgan Jones and Kasey Schmidt, 2-2, and Dezmond Ward and Michael Miller, 1-3.
In the Varsity Public Forum Brenna Rausch and Brent Seehafer finished 2-2 as did John Ward and Timothy Whelan. ALso finishing 2-2 were Katie Loutsch and Sam Grorud in the Novice Public Forum division.