Kemmerer senior Cyrus Skidmore researches current events at debate practice so he can be ready for the next competition. Cyrus was a state qualifier in the extemporaneous speaking debate event last year under the guidance of coach Dave Chapman. (GAZETTE PHOTO / Madison King)

The Kemmerer High School speech and debate team members may have different definitions of what competing in debate team means to them, but they all agree that it is hard work.

“I think speech and debate is an opportunity to develop speaking, listening and organization skills,” said debate coach Dave Chapman.

Chapman's debaters agree that being on the debate team has incredible benefits.

Terry Uranbold is a foreign exchange student from Mongolia who is on the Kemmerer debate team. Uranbold has debated for two years — one year in Mongolia and the other here in the United States.

“Speech and debate is the way you can express yourself through word choices in a good way," Uranbold said. "It makes you think about who you are and the 'whys' of the world.”

Besides Uranbold, there are four others on the Kemmerer High School speech and debate team — Cyrus Skidmore, Heather Holm, Easton Countryman and Seva Yuliyanti (a foreign exchange student from Indonesia).

Skidmore has been on the team for his entire high school career and has done very well. Holm has participated in debate for the past three years, although this year is her first in Kemmerer.

Countryman is a sophomore that earned his place as a speech and debate state champion his first year of high school.

Last but not least, Seva has only begun speech and debate, but believes it is a fun and challenging activity. Speech and debate coach Dave Chapman has coached the team for ten years and said he loves it.

In understanding what the team does when they ride off into the sunset for one of their tournaments, one must examine all of their events.

There are five main events debaters compete in. They include oratory, extemporaneous speaking, duo scripts, Lincoln Douglas debates and the improvisational event. Over the past couple of years, participating in these events has helped these Kemmerer academic athletes change the way they think about the world and improve their communication skills.

Terry Uranbold, Cyrus Skidmore and speech and debate coach Dave Chapman. (GAZETTE PHOTO / Madison King)

“The team has had more success this year even though it’s a small team," said coach Chapman. "The reason they’re doing so well is partially due to their dedication.”

Chapman is right about the team's success. This speech and debate season has already been full of first places for all competitors and other medals as well.

The past years have been full of sporadic third places and one or two firsts. But during those couple of years, the Rangers have earned a state champ (Countryman) and a state qualifier (Skidmore).

“This year has gone pretty well,” Skidmore said. “It has been better than my other three years. Everyone has done well.”

Judges are the scorekeepers in this event. Speech and debate judges are volunteers from the community that hosts t he tournament and do the service of helping students compete at a high level.

“There are multiple judges. They are kind and really listen," Skidmore said. "They give instruction on speech structure, points of strength and clarity and they have to give written feedback.”

Judging by how the team is doing this year, it sounds like the speech and debate Rangers are impressing those judges left and right. Go Rangers!

Although speech and debate may not have the format or the crowds of a traditional sport, the Rangers take pride in their events.

“Debate is a sport with no recognition," Countryman said. "It takes more work than anyone realizes.”

That is true. The opportunities and benefits from speech and debate can be shown through the state champions and qualifiers.

“It can be the way to influence the future,” Uranbold said.

The coach takes pride in saying that "Speech and debate is the opportunity to expand knowledge of the outside world.”

The debater Rangers are showing off their knowledge in the best way.

Countryman reflected on his Lincoln-Douglas debate state championship last year.

“It was a solid debate. It was all hard work and thinking on your feet," Countryman said. "When I noticed a mistake made by my opponent, I was quick to correct it. When I won it, it felt like all my hard work, research, practice, it was all worth it.”

The team's next debate will be in January of 2018. Good luck, Rangers!