Community Education
Gig Harbor, Peninsula debate teams qualify for national tournament
The Gig Harbor and Peninsula high school speech and debate teams both qualified for the national tournament with their showings at the Western Washington National Speech and Debate Association District tournament on March 7 and 8.
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Gig Harbor placed second at the regional event, just behind Bellevue High School. Peninsula came in third, even though only three Seahawks competed.
The Gig Harbor High School debate team.
The national tournament is June 15 through 20 in Des Moines, Iowa. Eight Gig Harbor Tides qualified along with all three Peninsula Seahawks. Peninsula qualified for nationals for the first time since 2017.
The teams plan to pool resources and travel together to the tournament. First, the two teams will compete at the state tournament this weekend, March 2o through 22.
“The students are already good friends, work together to research and often coach each other,” Gig Harbor coach Chris Coovert said. “It will be great to attend nationals together and give the kids more time to bond.”
Students who qualified for nationals and their competitive events include:
Peninsula
- Alex Sprague, informative speaking
- Mars Burton, extemporaneous speaking
- Alyssa Robinson, humorous interpretation
Gig Harbor
- Jack Petrie, congressional debate
- Elise Hill, original oratory
- Autumn Coovert, Lincoln Douglas debate
- Alaia Washington, dramatic interpretation
- Paige Neil, dramatic interpretation
- Timothy Slota, big questions debate
- Kendra Smith, programmed oral interpretation
- Mia Colombo, extemporaneous speaking
The Peninsula High School debate team.