Students from Independence and Parsons High Schools compete at the 2026 National Speech & Debate Tournament.

 

The National Tournament took place from June 14-19 in Richmond, Virginia, and featured 7,000 students from 1,500 high schools across the country. Independence High School students Audrey Kaiser and Makenna Larimore represented the Bulldogs at this year’s competition, while Brelin Summers and Shea Clark competed for Parsons High School.

 

The average event had 300 entries, with the top 60 from each advancing to the finals. While neither school had anyone finish in the top 60, all competitors worked hard in their efforts to compete among the best high school speech students in the nation.

 

Independence National Team

 

Parsons National Team