PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. – After a short hiatus, the Sylvan Hill High School Forensics Team is back in action and seeing success in the classroom and at competitions.
For the first time, SHHS has competitors who have qualified to compete at the National Speech and Debate Districts, which is a National Qualifier. Junior Will Fausel and Senior Sofia Vovk achieved recognition at the Bentonville Wild West Tournament on February 5 and 6, competing against 28 schools from five states. Fausel took home 2nd place while Vovk took home 3rd place.
"The tournaments were very intense the entire time and many made very convincing arguments,” said Fausel. “All things considered, though, it was very fun and gave me many unique perspectives on all the proposed bills."
“It was fun to meet and debate with other people despite all the ice and pandemic,” said Vovk.
The SHHS Forensics Department competed well at other recent competitions, too. At the Cabot Classic in January, Fausel and Vovk placed in the top 30 out of 75 entries, Sophomores Emma Browning and Ainsley Giangiobbe took home 3rd in Duet Improvisation, and Juniors Tessa Yielding and Wren Teng placed 6th as well. And at the Episcopal/SHHS Scrimmage Competition in December, Junior Madison Smith placed first.
“In our first year of competition, our team has made its mark and the program will continue to place SHHS on the map,” said Forensics teacher Jennifer Salazar Alaquinez.