26 Students from Henry Clay attended this prestigious competition to help capture the state title - the following HCHS team members received awards for their efforts: Senior Athie Livas became Champion of Varsity Lincoln-Douglas for the 2nd year in a row while Freshman Ben Swanson placed 2nd to become LD State Runner-Up.

Seniors Neha Ray & Helen Sauer became Champions of Policy Debate while Juniors Emma Guida & Mary Chesnut placed 2nd to become Policy State Runners-up.

Juniors Taylor Beegle & Sam Yu placed 2nd in Public Forum Debate to become State Runners-up with Senior Seth Morgan and Freshman Zach Grimmett becoming Semi-Finalists and placing 3rd overall.

Sophomore Macy Early placed 3rd in Congressional Debate with Sophomore Barrett Block and Freshman Urvi Patwardhan advancing to the final chamber.

Top Debate Speaker Awards were also given to the following students for their skills in oration:

Seniors Athie Livas, Neha Ray, Helen Sauer, Chelsea Wilcox and Freshman Ben Swanson.

Coach Ryan Ray was also recognized at the awards ceremony for his efforts with the team.

This Debate State Championship is the 8th in Kentucky's history for Henry Clay and brings the state title back, once again, to the Blue Devils.  Mr. Ryan Ray would like to express his gratitude to the fine young men and women who comprise the greatest team of speakers in Kentucky for 2011 - The HCHS Debate Team.  Go Blue Devils!

Click here for Team photo & here for individual awards.

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Congratulations to the Henry Clay Speech Team for placing 9^th out of 50 schools at the 2011 Kentucky High School Speech League State Speech Tournament.  Two students from HCHS received awards for their efforts by advancing to the final round at the state tournament, and they were:

Freshman Ben Swanson who placed 2^nd in Broadcasting to become State Runner-Up and Senior Chris Thompson who placed 4^th in Dramatic Interpretation.  9 other HCHS Team members advanced to the Semi-Finals of their events and received awards for their efforts:

Packy Atkins – Broadcasting
Declamation – Macy Early
Extemporaneous Speaking – Ben Swanson and Barrett Block
Duo – Christopher Thompson & Lizzie Baker
Impromptu Speaking – Ben Swanson
Improvisational Duo – Christopher Thompson, Lizzie Baker, Mary Price Duncan, and Carey Holbrook
Storytelling –Angelo Moncado

Congratulations once again to all the HCHS Speech Team members for their remarkable achievement – this placement is the highest overall state ranking in more a decade for the Henry Clay Blue Devils.