Clayton Elliott, Jackquelyn Sigala, Brenden Selby Caroline LaGrone

Two Carthage High School students, Freshmen Caroline LaGrone and Brenden Selby, qualified for the 2023 UIL Cross-Examination (CX) State Tournament to be held at the University of Texas at Austin on March 17-18. LaGrone and Selby placed second at the district competition, securing a spot at the state competition. Jackquelyn Sigala and Clayton Elliott, also CHS freshmen, placed fourth at the district competition and qualified as second alternates for the state competition.

Caroline LaGrone was also awarded Top Speaker at the district competition.

"This year was a rebuilding year for most of my debate team.” said Carthage High School Debate Coach Russell Rowe. “For various reasons, I didn't have any returning students able to compete at the CX Debate district competition this year, but I had a wonderful group of freshmen that worked really hard to learn debate. I was able to take these two teams of freshmen to the district contest and they did an excellent job. I am extremely proud of all these students.”

The UIL began in 1910 as the Debating League of Texas High Schools and merged in 1912 with the Texas Interscholastic Athletic Association. Active participation in debate is a Texas tradition over a century old.

Pictured from left to right are: Clayton Elliott, Jackquelyn Sigala, Brenden Selby and Caroline LaGrone