After three long days competing against eighteen East Texas teams at the National Speech and Debate Association District Tournament, four Mount Pleasant High School Speech and Debate team members have advanced to the national tournament while three others are alternates.
The National Qualifying tournament was held February 20-22 on the campus of the University of Texas at Tyler.

In Cross-Examination Debate, the team of junior Taryn Thurman and sophomore Connelly Cowan claimed one of only two qualifying spots out of 18 entries. It will be their second trip to the national tournament. In 2019, the team of Cowan and Thurman finished in the top 58 out of 180 teams at Nationals. Thurman is the daughter of Tris and Stephanie Thurman and Cowan is the daughter of Collin and Kelly Cowan.

In Lincoln Douglas debate, junior Reid Pinckard took one of only three advancing spots out of 35 entries and will make his second appearance at the national tournament. In 2019, Pinckard competed in extemporaneous speaking at Nationals. He is the son of Ritchie and Amanda Pinckard.

In Congressional Debate, senior Caroline Rose was one of the top six speakers in the House out of 62 entries and will make her first appearance at the national level. Rose is the daughter of Kevin and Tracie Rose.

Cowan and Pinckard qualified for the national tournament in multiple events. Cowan also placed 1st in Congressional Debate in the Senate and placed 2nd in International Extemporaneous Speaking. Pinckard placed 2nd in U.S. Extemporaneous Speaking. At the national level, students are only allowed to compete in one event because of the sheer size of the tournament.

Three team members earned alternate spots and may get to compete if a qualifier cannot attend. The team of junior Ryan Sharp and sophomore Taylor Hubbs are alternates in CX debate, and both are also alternates in extemporaneous speaking. Junior Kylie Hedge is an alternate in Big Questions debate.

“Every year we keep getting better,” said MPHS Speech and Debate Coach, Cody Morris. “These students really put in the work this year and dominated. Once again, we are taking four students to Nationals. As a team, we finished tied for 2nd in overall sweepstakes. With eighteen of the most competitive schools in our region in attendance, we tied with All Saints Episcopal, a private school in Tyler. I am very proud to coach these students and I cannot wait to watch them compete on the national stage.”

The NSDA National tournament will be held June 14-19, 2020 in Albuquerque, NM.

Photos –
Collage (left) Connelly Cowan and Taryn Thurman, (top right) Reid Pinckard, (bottom right) Caroline Rose