Teams from Haines and Skagway made their mark at the state-wide Drama, Debate and Forensics competition over the weekend in Anchorage. The Haines Glacier Bards had two pieces in the final events, Tiaya Ruggirello and Xi Xiao White’s duet acting piece made it through; as well as Ruggirello’s Humorous Interpretation. White and Ruggirello won a second place for the Duet Acting, while Ruggirello’s Humorous Interpretation came sixth.
Kai Hay’s Dramatic Interpretation missed the finals by just one point, garnering a 13th -place finish out of 33 competitors. White and Ruggirello’s Duo Interpretation also had a near miss heading into finals. That piece finished seventh out of 26.
Bards’ coach Amanda Randles said that last year, the group only had one piece in the semifinals and none in the finals. The year before that, no appearances in the finals or semis. Hundreds of students in grades 9 through 12 from 24 schools across the state competed in the three-day event.
Stay tuned to KHNS for Skagway’s results and more on the weekend trip.