The Clayton High School Speech and Debate Team had unprecedented success at the 2017 Eastern Missouri National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) District Tournament held on March 9-11. In addition to a slew of individual awards and national qualifiers, the CHS team also received the Leading Chapter Award recognizing its long-term participation and success at the NSDA District Tournament over multiple years. The last time the team earned this award was in 1995.

Hundreds of students from across the eastern half of Missouri competed at the District Tournament to earn one of the few coveted spots to the NSDA National Tournament. Only about four percent of the 120,000 students who compete in NSDA competitions nationwide each year will qualify for the National Tournament. This year, five CHS students will advance, including two students who qualified in two and three events, respectively.

Congratulations to the following students and their coaches, CHS Teachers Justin Seiwell, Daniel Glossenger and Deana Tennill, for their success at this year’s District Tournament.

Individual Awards
Maddy Bale - First Place in Informative Speaking, 10th Place in Original Oratory*
Maggie Baugh - Second Place in Informative Speaking*
Jacob Blair - Fourth Place in Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Third Place in Original Oratory*
Daniel Cho - Fifth Place in Congressional Debate (House 2), Elected as Permanent Presiding Officer in the House
Daniel Cho and Ajay Venigalla - Seventh Place in Public Forum Debate
Amit Cohen and Druva Riswadkar - Fifth Place in Duo Interpretation
Kate Cooper - Fourth Place in Congressional Debate (House 1)
Kate Cooper and Sophie Havranek -- Ninth Place in Public Forum Debate (TIE)
Josh Ettinger and Sasha Ware - Ninth Place in Public Forum Debate (TIE)
Marysia Hyrc - First Place in Congressional Debate (Senate), First Place in Lincoln-Douglas Debate, First Place in U.S. Extemporaneous Speaking*
Auriann Sehi - First Place in Program Oral Interpretation, Runner Up for the Student of the Year Honor selected by current and retired coaches from throughout Eastern Missouri*
Auriann Sehi & Izzy Newmark - Ninth Place in Duo Interpretation
Sydney Tennill - Sixth Place in Program Oral Interpretation
Kedar Venkatesh - Sixth Place in Informative Speaking
Nasja Wickerhauser - Ninth Place in Congressional Debate (House 3)

*National qualifier

Team Awards
Leading Chapter Award
Third Place in Overall Team Sweepstakes
Third Place in Speech Sweepstakes
Fourth Place in Debate Sweepstakes