The Great Bend High School debate team cracked the top five at the 2025 KSHSAA 5A State Debate Tournament this past weekend at Garden City High School. The Panthers competed in both the 4-speaker and 2-speaker divisions for their fourth consecutive appearance at the State tournament.
In the 4-speaker division, the team of Reese King, Ellie Damm, Steven Guillory, and Zachary Hart delivered a strong performance, finishing in a three-way tie for fourth place. After tie-breakers, the team secured fifth place. King, a senior, and Damm, a junior, tackled the affirmative side of the resolution, while Guillory, a senior, and Hart, a junior, argued the negative. Juniors Rhys Froetschner and Quinton Heath served as alternates, stepping in during a few rounds to ensure the team remained competitive.
GBHS debate coach Kim Heath praised the team’s preparation and adaptability.
“I am proud of the work they did to block out arguments against specific teams. They showed incredible focus and flexibility in crafting strategies tailored to each opponent,” she said.
Heath also attributed the teams’ success to their ability to connect with a variety of judges. “Our students are strong communicators and focused on presenting their arguments in a way that was persuasive not just for experienced judges but also for community members unfamiliar with debate terminology.”
The competition in the 4-speaker division was intense. Blue Valley Southwest emerged as the champion with an undefeated 16-0 record, followed by Sumner Academy (12-4) in second and De Soto (11-5) in third. The Panthers earned their spot at state by winning the Regional Championship at home on Dec. 21, 2024.
In the 2-speaker division, the Panthers qualified three teams, including seniors Analeah Ochs, juniors Jordan Ochs and Diana Stoddard, and sophomores Parker Coleman, Hunter McClanahan, and Kendra Scheideman. These teams earned their state bids by achieving winning records at invitational tournaments throughout the season. GBHS had three of the 35 teams entered in the 2-speaker tournament. Although they did not advance to elimination rounds, their debates reflected months of hard work and consistent growth. The 2-speaker division champions were seniors from Newton High School.
“The best quality of our team is how they support each other,” coach Heath shared. “Whether it’s offering feedback during practice or encouragement after a tough round, they truly embody what it means to be a team.”
Endurance played a crucial role in the teams’ success, as the 4-speaker teams competed in eight rounds, while 2-speaker teams participated in six rounds. The grueling schedule tested the Panthers’ mental and physical stamina. “The state tournament is a marathon,” Heath said. “Part of our success is due to our ability to stay focused and work through weariness to press on and stay sharp.”
This state tournament marked the final debates on the year’s national resolution, which focused on intellectual property rights. Affirmative teams proposed strengthening copyrights, patents, or trademarks to address issues such as technological advancements, climate change mitigation, economic growth, and protecting creative artists and pharmaceutical innovation.
As the debate season draws to a close, the Great Bend High School speech program has begun to make the shift to individual events and forensics season. The team will collaborate with area schools this Friday at a Model United Nations conference at Wichita State University.
