By Susan Burton, Henry County Schools Communications Director
CAMBRIDGE, MA — Demonstrating exceptional talent and perseverance, students from our local speech and debate program delivered standout performances at the prestigious Harvard Speech & Debate Tournament this past weekend. Competing against a field of elite speakers from across the country, several team members advanced deep into the elimination rounds.
The powerhouse duo of Tim Tyler and Joshua Lancaster made a significant mark in Duo Interpretation. Out of a highly competitive field of 105 entries, Tyler and Lancaster broke into the Top 48, ultimately concluding their impressive run in the Octofinals.
The success continued in Dramatic Interpretation, where two students earned individual honors by breaking into the elimination brackets, Joshua Lancaster and Canaan Barrow. Both Lancaster and Barrow showcased remarkable skill and emotional depth, also reaching the Octofinals before the tournament concluded.
The Harvard tournament is renowned for its rigorous schedule and high level of competition. After two grueling days of intense performances, the team’s coach, David Weatherly, expressed immense pride in the students’ dedication and growth. “Extremely proud of these kids,” said Weatherly. “It was two long days and some truly great competition. We want to thank Harvard Speech & Debate for providing such a rewarding experience for our students.”
Hosted annually, the Harvard tournament is one of the largest and most competitive high school speech and debate events in the world, drawing thousands of students to showcase their oratorical and analytical skills.
Photo by David Weatherly: Josh Lancaster, AJ Wardlaw, Tim Tyler, Canaan Barrow, Maple Townsend, and Logan Barnhart in front of the old city hall in Boston, MA.