Harner+and+Estabrook+Take+3rd+at+National+Tournament

Number three in the nation isn't too shabby.

The Buhler Debate and Forensics team competed at the National Catholic Forensic League Grand National Tournament in Philadelphia, Penn. over Memorial Day weekend. In policy debate, the team of juniors Samantha Estabrook and Bryce Harner advanced all the way to the semifinals before losing to another Kansas team from the Blue Valley school district.

Harner and Estabrook finished with a 7-2 record and a third-place finish in the nation.

Buhler's other policy team of junior Gage Brookman and sophomore Riley Crane advanced to double octa-finals before losing and exiting the tournament with a 4-2 record.

Other students competing but not advancing past preliminary rounds included sophomore Cyan Sanders in original oratory, junior Peter Qiu and senior Tyler Anderson in extemporaneous speaking, and senior Anna Ceniceros in dramatic performance.

In order to compete at the national tournament, students must first pass through qualifying tournaments based on the region of the local Catholic diocese. Buhler High School qualifies through the Wichita diocese.

The Buhler Debate and Forensics Team is led by coach Andrew Bauer and assistant coach Mel Towne.