Colby Forensics Opens Season with Second-Place Finish at Garden City
January 31, 2026
The Colby High School forensics team opened its season with a strong showing on the road, competing Saturday at a multi-school tournament hosted in Garden City on January 31. Facing a field of 12 teams, Colby finished second overall in the team standings, trailing only Great Bend, in what served as an encouraging early benchmark for a young and growing squad.
Head coach Paige Gawith said the team’s overall performance reflected both preparation and poise, particularly given the inexperience of much of the roster. Of the 12 competitors Colby took to Garden City, only five were returning team members. The remainder were attending their first forensics tournament, making the second-place team finish even more notable.
Colby competitors earned multiple individual placings across a wide range of events. Alayna Hrnicek placed fifth in Informative Speaking and fifth in Oration, showing consistency across two demanding speaking categories. Kinslie Blake contributed with a seventh-place finish in Impromptu Speaking and a third-place finish in Prose. Anjali Balbuena turned in one of the team’s top individual performances, placing third in Poetry and second in Prose, with her Prose finish qualifying her for the state tournament. Geoff Morris placed seventh in Prose, while the duo of Brayden Lazaro and Morris teamed up for a sixth-place finish in Improvised Duet Acting.
Teamwork also paid dividends for Balbuena and Taydon Janousek, who earned third place in Improvised Duet Acting. Sophia Harris added another placement for Colby with a fifth-place finish in Poetry, rounding out a well-balanced day across both individual and partnered events.
Gawith noted that the success of first-time competitors stood out as a major positive from the tournament. With several students experiencing competition for the first time, the team not only gained valuable experience but also produced tangible results early in the season. Colby’s forensics program currently includes 16 members overall, giving the team flexibility as the season progresses and schedules become more demanding.
The Garden City tournament marked just one stop in a long forensics season that runs from January through the state tournament, scheduled for the first weekend of May. Students are permitted to attend up to eight tournaments during the season, but Colby plans to attend 10 total events to ensure opportunities for those who balance forensics with other school activities.
Up next for Colby is a tournament at Holcomb on Saturday, February 7, where the team will look to build on its early momentum and continue developing younger competitors. Later in the season, Colby will also host its own tournament on March 7, an event that requires significant community involvement. Approximately 50 community judges will be needed to help evaluate performances, underscoring the scale of the event and the importance of local support for the program.
With early success, a mix of experienced and first-year competitors, and a full schedule ahead, Colby’s forensics team appears well positioned as it moves deeper into the season.