MOSES LAKE — Students from the Moses Lake High School speech and debate team are going to a state competition Friday after a successful weekend in Wenatchee.

"The team took first place in the overall sweepstakes, second in individual events and first in debate," said booster representative Jacie Daschel, whose daughter is on the debate team.

Teacher Don Hendrixson said he believes the team is going to excel in the upcoming tournament, which takes place over two days at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma.

"I think we're doing really well, and we've had a really good year," Hendrixson said.

Students qualifying for state at the district tournament include: Kevin Reams, Josie Daschel, Eric Temple, Kathy Taylor, Karie Steele, Jenn Duffer, Anna White, Ceci Hernandezm Brandon John, Nathan Arnold, Michael Lindstrom, Kim Smith and Luis Suarez.

Team Captain and high school senior Josie Daschel, Jacie Daschel's daughter, took second place in oratory and first place in the duo category with her teammate Kevin Reams at the district level.

"It was really good," Josie Daschel said. "We had some fierce competition."

Daschel missed first place in oratory by one point.

After graduating from high school, she plans to study at the University of Washington. She hopes for a career involving public speaking.