Cross Roads ISD press release
The Cross Roads High School Speech and Debate team continued it’s winning streak in the Van Fall Speech and Debate Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 11. The event featured 22 schools and about 200 students across Northeast Texas.
Luke Carnes and LaTrae Chaney finished 3rd and Alex Dickson and Katie Harris finished 7th in CX Debate. Luke Carnes finished in 4th in Persuasive Speaking. Katie Harris and LaTrae Chaney finished 5th and 6th, respectfully, in Original Oratory. Rachael Cooper and Kaden Mattingly finished 2nd and 6th in Congressional Debate. As a result of their finish in the tournament, Luke Carnes, Rachael Cooper and Kaden Mattingly have earned berths to compete at the Northeast Texas Debate Association (NTDA) Championships (a scholarship tournament) in Lindale in February 2015.
Coach Chris Dickson said, “I’m excited our students are experiencing many firsts on behalf of our school district. These are the first students to earn berths to this prestigious tournament in school history. There are countless scholarship opportunities available to students who compete in speech and debate, and I’m glad these students will get a chance to experience one of them at the NTDA Championships.”
Other students will get a chance to earn their berth over the course of this year’s competition.
Students competing in the tournament included Juniors Luke Carnes, LaTrae Chaney, Rachael Cooper, Katie Harris, Olivia Komandosky, and Kayla Stewart. Sophomores competing included Jennifer Bradford, Alex Dickson, and Evyn Fletcher. Freshmen competing included Chelsea Baker, Julia Harris, Gabrielle Loden, and Taylor Long.
Kaden Mattingly was the lone junior high school student competing in the tournament. He is a 7th grader.