Oakley School Celebrates Utah State Championships

We are proud to announce that Oakley's debate team took first place at the state championship in St. George, Utah! Individually, Oakley debaters finished first and second in Extemporaneous Speaking and Public Forum debate, first and third in Lincoln-Douglas Debate, medaled in Student Congress, and made it to the final round in Impromptu Speech and Original Oratory. Coach Craig Jacobs says, "All members of the Speech and Debate team contributed significantly to the team victory." He also commented that the team exhibited a distinctive type of articulate maturity which he believes comes from their unique educational experience here at Oakley. He elaborates, "Great thanks also to all of those in the Oakley community who supported the team throughout the year. It is clear that the practice these students receive, not only in classes but in dorm groups, feedback sessions, modules and therapy, is combining to make them more articulate, more polished critical thinkers and speakers."

However, the debate team wasn't the only victory in Utah State Championships this year. The swim team had something to prove as well.

At the recent 3A State Swim Meet at Brigham Young University, Oakley senior Ben successfully defended his title of 3A State Champion in the 200 individual medley. He went on to earn a second state title in the 100 backstroke, which he finished a mere .04 seconds before his closest competitor. Both races resulted in personal best times for Ben, and his time in the individual medley now holds the spot as the fastest 3A 200 IM in the past ten years. According to Coach Justin Spitzer, "He's very humble, no attitude, very gracious. He's got natural talent, but he also has a strong work ethic, and that carries him through his practices." Both the Deseret News and The Salt Lake Tribune recognized Ben's achievements, with the latter noting him as a "Prep Athlete of the Week."

The Oakley School is a licensed Therapeutic Boarding School located outside of beautiful Park City, Utah. Operating from a Social Model, with a focus on healthy students, strong families, personal responsibility and service to others, our mission is to inspire each student to respect and pursue educational and moral growth while developing individual skills crucial to success in a complex, changing world.