WORLAND – Amongst 33 schools from three different states including Wyoming, South Dakota and Nebraska, Worland High School’s speech and debate team sent 28 students to the Natrona County meet and reigned victorious awarded first place in 3A sweepstakes, followed by Jackson in second and Rawlins in third.

At the meet this past weekend in Casper, many highlights included Nathaniel Nelson and Jade Hefeneider taking first place in duo, Jack Vines taking second in poetry, Rachael Carver and Tanner Stott taking second in cross-examination debate and Zoe Fernandez taking sixth in congressional debate. Alongside that, the team had some break into quarterfinals and semifinals, including Caylin Deniz in informative, Kaitlyn Bostrom and Kim Sumida in oratory, Sullie-Ann Keuntjes and Rachael Carver in poetry, Nathaniel Nelson and Raeth Tolman in humorous and Sullie-Ann Keuntjes with Jack Vines and Nick Bower with Dash Lloyd in duo.

“We hoped we could do well, but this was beyond our dreams,” Coach Rick Dorn said. “In my time coaching, we have never won Natrona overall, so this was a nice victory for us.”

The next meet takes place in Worland on Feb. 15 from 1 to 9 p.m. and Feb. 16 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The team is still in need of a hefty amount of judges, as well. “We need 39 judges at a time, and we like to have enough if someone forgets to come, or has an emergency,” Dorn said.

There are no qualifications to be a judge, as long as they are out of high school and have a positive attitude. Those interested can contact Rick Dorn at (307) 431-8390.

The meet will bring together 16 schools competing, with about 300 to 400 entries.