Wenzel qualifies for national tournament

• Mason Wenzel

Mason Wenzel

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A Mitchell High School speech and debate student qualified for his second time to attend the National Speech and Debate Tournament. Mason Wenzel, a junior, took first place in domestic extemporaneous speaking Friday and Saturday in Watertown and qualified for nationals, which will take place in June in Birmingham, Ala.

“Several others finished in top order,” said Ron Grimsley, speech and debate coach.

Lucas Bartl finished sixth in foreign extemporaneous speaking.

Two teams finished in the top eight — Cara Beck and Matthew Schilling, and Wenzel and Bartl — each debating the rise of China and whether it is beneficial to the U.S.

The Mitchell High School speech and debate team also received the District Leading Chapter Award, which is based on accumulated points at the Watertown tournament, Grimsley said.

The team will attend the state tournament in Yankton in two weeks and a tournament in Pierre for student congress in about a month.

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