Highland Speech and Debate Team competed at the OHSSL Akron District State Qualifying Tournament on Feb. 4. Highland finished second in the district.

In addition to the eight students who already locked in to compete at the state tournament (Victoria Grayson, Abby Catron, Ava Mastrianni, Ray Flannery, Lauren Johnson, Emma Medwid, Austin Levan, Noah Zona), Highland will be bringing an additional 24 to compete at states. They include Andy Mockbee, Brock Withers, Amelia and Cecilia Mainzer, Kelly Meaden, Chris Sollenberger, Grace Braver, Evan Buck, Katie Linger, Grace McCormick, Emily Hoose, Taylor Headrick, Andras Fabian, Mia and Ava Shaffer, Samantha Zeiger, Tian Treb, Braden Webb, Quade Mainzer, Emma Crone, Nick McFadden, Clara Vorndran, Scott Blum and Ben Rife.

Alternates include Spencer Phillips, Julie Origlio, Alyson Hagen, Nathan Gillin, Miranda Scrivens, Andrew Sever, Kennedy Shelton and Emily Knoer.

The team will be traveling with 32 state qualifiers and seven alternates. This is the largest number of state qualifiers the Highland team has ever produced.

The team now focuses their sights on the National Qualifying Tournament in two weeks.