Lansing High School is proud to congratulate seniors Bayne Yoakam and Bruce Blankartz on an outstanding performance at the 5A State Debate Tournament, where they earned 2nd place among 52 teams from across Kansas.
After a full day of preliminary rounds, only 19 teams advanced to elimination rounds. Bayne and Bruce’s strong showing earned them a bye through the play-in round, placing them directly into the Round of 16.
From there, the duo went on an impressive run:
Round of 16: Defeated Topeka West with a decisive 3–0 decision after an earlier loss in the tournament
Quarterfinals: Won 3–0 against De Soto
Semifinals: Earned another 3–0 victory over Newton to advance to finals
In the championship round, Bayne and Bruce faced a highly skilled team from Andover, ultimately finishing as State Runners-Up. Their performance capped off a strong and rewarding debate season.
“It was a phenomenal showing from Bayne and Bruce and a great reminder that hard work truly does pay off,” said debate coach Kevin Krouse, who is also in his first year of teaching at Lansing High School.
Congratulations to Bayne and Bruce on this remarkable achievement!
