Craig Daily Press

Kim Norris, left, kisses her daughter, Emily Norris, on Friday, June 15, in front of their home on Pershing Street as Emily and Tanya Rinehart left for a weeklong trip to Wichita, Kan. The two girls, who will be seniors at Moffat County High School in the fall, advanced to the Nationals Forensics League’s national tournament there for duo interpretation.

Moffat County High School Speech and Debate Team coach Eric Hansen loads luggage into the back of a school van Friday, June 15, as speech competitor Emily Norris watches. Hansen, his wife Amy, Norris and Tanya Rinehart made the 12-hour trip to Wichita, Kan., over two days. The girls compete for five days in the primary, and possibly supplementary events.

Tanya Rinehart, left, and Emily Norris laugh while watching “The Boondock Saints” on Saturday, June 16, on the way to Wichita, Kan., for the National Forensic League’s national tournament. They placed first in the duo interpretation category of their district’s national qualifier and mark the first Moffat County High School competitors to advance to nationals in six years.

Tanya Rinehart plays “Guitar Hero II” on Saturday night at the Hawthorn Suites in Wichita, Kan. The students check in Sunday and compete Monday through Friday.

Emily Norris, left, and Tanya Rinehart, wait for their coach, Eric Hansen, Sunday, June 17 in front of the Century II Convention Center in Wichita, Kan., during National Forensic League’s orientation for national competitors.

Tanya Rinehart, left, and Emily Norris, right, pose with an Elvis Presley impersonator during National Forensic League’s expo for national competitors Sunday, June 17, in Wichita, Kan. Next year’s national tournament is in Las Vegas.

Near downtown Wichita, Kan., the Big and Little Arkansas rivers combine into the Arkansas River. To the left is the Exploration Place. The Keeper of the Plains statue sits at the rivers’ intersection.

Moffat County High School speech competitors Emily Norris, right, and Tanya Rinehart, second from right, walk with their coach’s wife, Amy Hansen, and Sean Pack from Battle Mountain High School on Sunday, June 17 at the Keeper of the Plains monument in Wichita, Kan. The girls said they meet many new friends at speech tournaments.

Emily Norris, right, performs she and Tanya Rinehart’s duo interpretation piece, “The Laramie Project,” on Sunday, June 17, in their hotel room in Wichita, Kan. They practiced the piece before beginning competition on Monday, June 18.

Tanya Rinehart, left, and Emily Norris rehearse their duo interpretation piece Sunday, June 17 in their hotel room.

Emily Norris, left, and Tanya Rinehart, right, listen to speech coach Eric Hansen and his wife Amy’s comments on their rehearsal of their duo interpretation piece Sunday, June 17 in their hotel room.

Moffat County High School seniors-to-be Tanya Rinehart and Emily Norris show off their new shoes they purchased for the national speech and debate tournament June 17 to 22 in Wichita, Kan. The girls bought matching outfits to wear each day of competition.

Tanya Rinehart, right, and Emily Norris decided to do some late-night ironing Sunday, June 17, the evening before they began competing in the National Forensic League national tournament in Wichita, Kan.

Tanya Rinehart, left, and Emily Norris practice their duo interpretation piece in the hallway of Derby (Kan.) High School on Monday, June 18, as two of their first-round competitors walk by. Students often prepare in the hallways then present in closed sessions to small groups, including two judges. Cameras are not allowed in competition rooms.

Tanya Rinehart, left, and Emily Norris wait for their next round in a hallway at Derby (Kan.) High School on Tuesday, June 19 during the National Forensic League national tournament.

Tanya Rinehart, left, and Emily Norris give pretend sad faces on Tuesday, June 19 after finding out they did not advance with their duo interpretation event at the national speech and debate tournament in Kansas. The students then competed in their supplementary event, individual poetry.

Tanya Rinehart, left, and Emily Norris look at photos taken of them Tuesday, June 19 during a visit to the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, Kan. The zoo visit and other activities were organized for National Forensics League national competitors.

Tanya Rinehart, left, and Emily Norris prepare their poetry pieces for competition Tuesday, June 19 in their Hawthorn Suites hotel room. The students began competing in their supplementary event on Wednesday, June 20.