The Parkland High School Speech and Debate Team had an impressive showing at the Chapin Husky 2024 Tournament this past weekend, marking significant achievements for the Matadors. Leading the way, Azra Rios-Carroll advanced to the UIL State tournament and will be representing Parkland at the state competition in January. Additionally, Rios-Carroll has qualified for the Texas Forensic Association (TFA) State Tournament, which will be held later this year in Houston.
On Friday night, Azra Rios-Carroll and Crystal Shepherd made it to finals, showcasing their strong speaking skills. Azra secured 3rd place, while Shepherd finished closely behind in 4th place, contributing valuable points for the team.
Saturday's competition was even more eventful, with several Matadors earning top placements:
- Azra Rios-Carroll: 1st place in Informative Speaking, 4th place in POI (Program Oral Interpretation), and 6th place in US Extemporaneous Speaking.
- Abagail Meisenbach: 3rd place in POI.
- Crystal Shepherd: 4th place in Dramatic Interpretation.
- Cassidy Beltran: Reached semifinals in both Dramatic Interpretation (DI) and POI.
- Bianca Kerins and Fernando Valenzuela competed in Congress, gaining valuable experience and points.
With these stellar performances, Parkland High School earned an impressive 3rd place overall in the Top Five Schools, finishing just behind Ysleta and Franklin High Schools.
The tournament was also a significant milestone for the team's National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) points accumulation. Crystal Shepherd is poised to become the team's next state qualifier at the upcoming Eastwood tournament later this month, with Cassidy Beltran and Abagail Meisenbach also nearing qualification.
Congratulations to the entire Speech and Debate Team, led by sponsor Ryan Mullenix, for their hard work and dedication. Best of luck as they continue to excel in the season and prepare for state-level competitions! Go Matadors!