While most Hennessey students left to relax for Thanksgiving break on Friday, Nov. 22, the HHS speech and debate team and coach Linda Soudek traveled to Marlow for a two-day trip to the Marlow Speech Tournament.

The long journey proved worthwhile as the Hennessey squad ran away with the class 3A sweepstakes championship out of a fi eld of seven schools, garnering 73 total points.

The next closest competitor was 3A runner-up Navajo with 48 points, followed by third place fi nisher Mangum with 39 points.

Hennessey debaters once again anchored the team’s victory as the cross-examination debate teams of Nadia Valles and Ronny Robles and Ashland Crites and Milisa Heskett took first and second place, respectively.

Senior Lincoln-Douglas debater Pedro Valle also clinched first place and Lincoln-Douglas newcomer Makyla Schmidt took second place.

In novice division Lincoln-Douglas debate, sophomore Cailyn Baggitt placed third.

In individual events, Hennessey swept the event of domestic extemporaneous speaking, with Ashland Crites taking fi rst, Jaden Matthews second, and Ronny Robles third.

In foreign extemporaneous speaking, senior Nadia Valles continued her undefeated streak by taking first place, while younger sister Nayely Valles took first place in novice division foreign extemp.

In addition, freshman Robles had a good tournament showing bringing home three trophies by also placing first in prose.

Joining him in receiving a third trophy was Ashland Crites who also placed second in monologue.

In standard oratory, Milisa Heskett took second place and Jaden Matthews placed third. Also, Makyla Schmidt placed third in poetry.

Also competing in fi nal rounds and earning points toward the team’s sweepstakes victory were Raiven Bedford and Laura Ullery in novice division.

Soudek said the team will have a break until second semester when its season “kicks into high gear,” ultimately preparing for regionals and state in the spring.