The Star Valley High School Speech and Debate team delivered one of its strongest performances of the season at the Green River Invitational on February 13–14, 2026. Competing against top 4A programs from across Wyoming, the Braves earned a 2nd-place overall finish, sending multiple competitors into finals just one week before national qualifiers.

Friday the 13th, combined with Valentine’s Day, proved to be a lucky and memorable weekend for SVHS competitors. Several students broke into the final rounds — a major milestone in tournament competition.

• Chloe Goodson, Drama — 2nd place

• Bailey Sperry, Program Oral Interpretation — 6th place

• Ireland Fildes, Humor — 5th place, her first time reaching finals

Ireland described the emotional moment of seeing her name posted:
“When I saw the humor posting on the wall and saw my name at the top of the list, it felt surreal. For a minute, I couldn’t move, my eyes were glued to the piece of paper, reading it over and over just to convince myself that I wasn’t dreaming.”

Depth across events helped secure the Braves’ team placement. Several competitors advanced to semi-final rounds, demonstrating the program’s strength beyond individual finalists.

• Alan Ridenour, Extemporaneous Speaking

• Ian Coles, Extemporaneous Speaking & Impromptu

• McKenzie Sidel, Informative Speaking

• Paizlee Kuhlman, Informative Speaking

Coaches noted that advancing to semi-finals in these highly competitive categories often requires weeks of preparation, research, and practice under time pressure.

For drama competitor Chloe Goodson, breaking into finals was the result of months of work — and the support of her teammates made it unforgettable. “I would say that it felt really good to break, knowing how hard I have worked on my drama, and the best part was that no matter who did or didn’t break, the whole team was celebrating, and it was even better when I got on stage and they called my name and my whole team screamed so loud,” Goodson said.

Students described the tournament atmosphere as both nerve-wracking and exciting, with teammates cheering each other on between rounds and celebrating every advancement, regardless of event. With national qualifiers scheduled for next weekend, the Green River Invitational served as a crucial confidence boost and final tune-up. The Braves will face some of the toughest competition of the season as they attempt to secure spots at the national level. Team members say their goals now include refining performances, strengthening delivery, and maintaining the supportive team culture that fueled their success. If their recent results are any indication, Star Valley’s Speech and Debate team is poised to make a strong push toward nationals.