r By Bryson Walker
At region, the speech and debate team from American Leadership Academy swept the Lincoln Douglas debate category taking 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place. They also took 1st in impromptu and 3rd in oratory. As a team, they placed 3rd in sweepstakes. But those achievements are even more amazing when one considers the size of ALA’s team. All other schools had over 20 students representing them. ALA accomplished this feat with only 6.
Daryl Workman is in his 2nd year as the speech and debate coach. “Most of the time I just try to give them some direction and then stay out of their way while they do great things,” he said modestly.
Mr. Workman is also over Jr. High Student Government and teaches history and leadership.
The underdog debate team next went to the state competition. They came away with two state champions, Brayden Higley and Kaylee Reinitz. They also placed 4th in oratory, took 10th overall, and had two other students who advanced to quarterfinals.
Is Mr. Workman proud of his students? “I’ve been inspired by these youth leaders. I learn as much working with them as any of them could learn from me. These youth are indicators for the future of our culture because they will look at the world with critical insights and know which solutions have merit from both history and their own imaginations,” he said.
Seniors:
Oliver Smith -Team Co-captain, Public Forum;
Brayden Higley -State Champion in Lincoln Douglas, Region Champion in Impromptu
Juniors:
Kaylee Reinitz -Team Co-captain, State Champion in Oratory, Region Champion in Lincoln Douglas; Jewel Sharp -Oratory, Lincoln Douglas, Impromptu; Nancy Rodriguez -Oratory, Lincoln Douglas
Sophomores:
Tempest Allred -Middle School Mentor, Oratory, Lincoln Douglas; Lily Smith -Public Forum
Freshmen:
Adam Howes -Congress, Humorous Interpretation; Zachary Mair -Impromptu, Big Questions