By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post
Hard work paid off for two Salina South High School four-year debaters.
Seniors Maya Daily and Tiana Marion won the 5A state two-speaker debate tournament this past weekend.
"Maya and Tiana had a fantastic season and were returning from great finishes at the state debate tournament in the prior year. Tiana was eighth and Maya was third at state with their respective colleagues who graduated last year, so we started the season with high hope and lofty goals to build on that success," Dr. Megan Hagaman, Salina South debate coach, told Salina Post.
The topic for the year was "Resolved The United State Federal Government should enact substantial criminal justice reform in one or more of the following: sentencing, policing, forensics science." Hagaman noted that the Salina South duo defended elimination of the death penalty in the final round debate.
Hagaman praised the duo for their hard work and noted that the entire Salina South team contributed to the success.
"I am tremendously proud of the hours and work that the team put into ensuring that we brought home the state championship this year. This was a team effort and included all of our debaters working together to scout information, conduct research, help prepare, and provide encouragement throughout the competition," Hagaman noted. "We would not have been nearly as successful without our sophomores who went 4-2 and finished 10th, and our four-speaker team who also had an excellent tournament and finished fifth in that division."