Seventeen Harriton High School students earned spots at the Pennsylvania High School Speech League state tournament after placing first or second at the district competition Feb. 26.

The Rams sent 12 speech competitors and five debaters to the two-day state championships, held March 20-21 at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania in Bloomsburg, The Harriton Banner reported.

To qualify, each student had to finish in the top two at the district tournament, which Harriton hosted. Speech competitors faced four preliminary rounds on the first day, with semifinal and final rounds on the second. Public Forum and Lincoln-Douglas debaters drew six preliminary rounds before octofinals began on the second day.

The qualification capped a season of weekly meetings and in-person competitions. Students also competed in recorded events and online bouts through the National Speech and Debate Association and the New York Public Debate League.

Speech team captain Zoe Palmer told the Banner the state tournament stands apart because it draws competitors from across Pennsylvania and runs as an overnight event. Palmer said the most rewarding part is watching teammates grow more confident as the weekend unfolds.

Debate captain Pedram Bigdeli, head of parliamentary debate, told the Banner that state-level competitors have spent years honing their skills and that anyone hoping to succeed must bring their best. Parliamentary debate requires no prewritten cases, so Bigdeli said his squad prepared by practicing throughout the year and staying current on the news.

Results from the March tournament were not available at publication.

Beyond the rounds, Bigdeli pointed to team bonding and trips into the college town as highlights. "The second day is spent walking around and drinking boba with friends," he said in the Banner interview.