Riverton High Senior Chaz McDonald does stand-up sitting down.

And he's good enough at it to earn a spot at the National Forensic League's national tournament in Kansas next month.

McDonald, who qualified in humorous interpretation, has spinal muscular atrophy and limited use of his head and limbs. He uses a wheelchair.

He substitutes comedic physical gestures with facial animation to deliver the punch lines of his Ron White piece, "They Call Me Tater Salad." It's irreverent, and often best deadpanned, like the opening line about sitting naked in a bean bag chair eating Cheetos and watching TV.

"What sets me apart the most is ... I'm in a wheelchair," he said. But because of that, "judges are automatically paying attention to me, they're automatically looking at me, listening to me, so I think it plays in my favor."

Especially his take against embryonic stem cells in one recent competition. "I'm all for research on adult stem cells. ... I don't want to get to the point where it gets carried away, where people are genetically altering certain attributes."

McDonald has been on the Riverton debate team two years. In that time he's earned 561 National Forensic League points, which come from doing well at competition, debate coach Cody Henrichsen said.

He beat about a dozen other students vying for the humorous interpretation slot at the national competition. Two other students, from Utah's other competitive regions, also will compete in that category, Henrichsen said.

"When I was told it was me being chosen," McDonald said, "I had to make them say it again to make sure I wasn't hallucinating or anything."

Described as outgoing and fun, McDonald also has played in the chess club and is studying criminal justice at the district's tech center.

"He's quick with the wit ... very good with the mind," his mom, Lori McDonald, said.

"He's competing against kids who spend all their time doing drama, and he does well against them," Henrichsen said. "He kicks his own butt all the time to keep going further."

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