Sophomores Blake Hohmann and Bryan Keck garnered the high finish in public forum debate at the Iowa High School Speech Association’s State Debate Tournament on Friday and Saturday in Ankeny, according to Hempstead debate coach Don Stanner.

Hohmann and Keck competed on a team that debated the topic of whether Spain should grant Catalonia its independence.

They were among six Hempstead teams who competed at the state tournament.

Stanner said the third-place finish is the best ranking that Hempstead students have garnered in the 12 years he has coached the team.

“The time and effort that they put into it, the hours and hours outside of our practice time, is what really moved the needle,” he said.