The speech team traveled to Malakoff on Saturday to compete at the Crossroads speech and debate meet. All the students who participated placed and medaled in their events and the team placed second overall among all of the schools there.
In CX debate Evan Grisham and Tate Slaughter placed fifth, Lilah Adams and Colby Menefee placed sixth, and Taylor Lack and Mollie Dittmar placed seventh. CX is a partner debate.
“Evan and I did well; we went 2-1 against a school like North Lamar,” Slaughter said. “I can tell we are becoming a stronger team with each meet.”
In Congress there were several rooms competing. Lilah Adams received third place in her room. Both Menefee and Grisham received fifth place in their rooms. Congress is similar to an actual Congress session, with the students working as senators and representatives.
“Competing in Congress helped me realize I am a lot more confident this year than I was last year,” Grisham said. “ While it may not be my favorite event, Congress offers me an opportunity I have only dreamed about. I have always wanted to read and write legislation as well as debate it.
In Prose, Buffalo took the top three places, with Slaughter coming in first, Zach White second and Taylor Lack third.
“There was a lot of good competition in prose,” Slaughter said. “I faced some really amazing speakers in my room.”
In Poetry, Mollie Dittmar took first place and Josalyn Taylor took third. According to Josalyn Taylor, this was a meet to remember because it was the first time she placed. Dittmar, who is a freshmen, was competing for the second time this year in the event.
“My favorite thing about poetry is that it rhymes,” Dittmar said. “Besides that, I like how I’m telling a story as if it were mine”
The students are coached by Melonie Menefee and Jill Henson. Both the students and their coaches think the year will be a successful one because they have done well in the past two meets they’ve attended.
“I was excited. We competed very well against some great schools,” Melonie Menefee said. “It wasn’t a big meet; however, some of the best school in the state attended, and we held our ground.”
The students said that this speech meet made them realize that they have potential and can be at the top if they can keep working.
“This past Saturday at the Crossroads Invitational, I felt Buffalo did very well,” Grisham said. “We had a great turnout and it was obvious in the awards ceremony.”
