Continuing its successful run, the Pinecrest Speech and Debate Team claimed the team sweepstakes at the Duke University Blue Devil Classic Invitational for the third year in a row. The tournament featured teams from North and South Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia for the two-day event.

Pinecrest swept titles in almost every event before being named the top overall team at the tournament. Individual speech trophies went to Kyle Ocheltree and Hunter Ocheltree, first place in duo interpretation, and Chare Perkins and Scotty Pruitt, second place in duo interpretation; to Doug Harrison, first place in dramatic interpretation, and to Grant King, first place, Casey Suglia, third place, and Hannah Sellers, fourth place, in oral interpretation. Ben Denton claimed both first place in extemporaneous speaking, and first place in impromptu speaking.

Other students placed as top speakers in each of the competitive debate events. In novice Congressional debate, all three Pinecrest entries advanced to the finalist round. Kyle Bishop, Connor Goggin and Ayla Brown finished in the final 12, with Connor Goggin claiming the award for best presiding officer in a novice chamber.

In two-man varsity public forum debate, the team of Emily Gower and Auden Laurence finished as tournament champions over the North Carolina School of Science and Math, with a 3-0 final decision. They advanced to the final round in a coach-over of teammates Michael Adams and ShaylaBirath in the semi-finals.The team of Elaine Kearney and Alex Snyder also finished in the top eight of the varsity pool. In novice public forum debate, the team of Connor Hees and Nick Temple topped all others to claim the championship. Jordan Curry finished third in varsity Lincoln-Douglas debate.

The team travels next to Cambridge, Massachusetts to compete in the 39th Annual Harvard National High School Speech and Debate Tournament.

For more information, contact Libby Carter at lcarter@ncmcs.org.