TROY, Ill. – Triad High School’s debate team made its first appearance this year at the National Speech & Debate Tournament in Richmond, Va., where students Connor Pearce, Morgan Barnett, and Daniel Winfield represented both the school and the Greater Illinois District in World Schools Debate, becoming the first team from Southern Illinois to advance to the event’s elimination rounds.
The National Speech & Debate Tournament brings together competitors from across the United States and around the world.
Each National Speech & Debate Association district is allowed to send two entries per event, making qualification a notable achievement.
Competing against nearly 200 teams from across the nation and internationally, the Triad team advanced out of preliminary competition as the 27th seed and reached triple octafinals.
The team’s results included individual recognition.
Barnett was ranked the 24th speaker in the event, and Winfield was ranked 45th. World Schools Debate teams consist of three to five students, and the rankings placed Barnett and Winfield among the top 50 speakers out of more than 600 competitors.
The accomplishments marked what Triad High School described as a historic milestone for both Triad Debate and the Greater Illinois District.
“We are incredibly proud of Connor, Morgan, and Daniel for their hard work, dedication, and outstanding representation of our school and community on the national stage,” the school said.
