Wa-Hi Debate Team has strong showing

Wa-Hi Debate Team has strong showing at Pacific Lutheran University - By coach Jean Tobin
In our third and final regular season tournament of the year, Walla Walla High School's Debate Team had another strong showing.

On January 29 and 30 the team competed at the T.O.H. Karl Forensics Invitational Tournament at Pacific Lutheran University. The tournament was one of the largest held in Washington this year, with approximately 50 high schools attending from around the region.

In individual events, Hope Grant-Herriot (freshman) competed in the top division (Open) of Interpretive Reading against senior competitors and made it into the Finals Round. She received a trophy for First Place Novice Competitor in her event. Hope's speech was so entertaining that one judge had to stop the timer (all events are timed and students are docked points if they go overtime) in order to finish laughing.

Maddie Bronstein (freshman) and Nic Clifton (junior) both made it to the Finals Round of Novice Impromptu, where their final speeches were based on political comics.

In novice Lincoln-Douglas debate Maddie Bronstein (freshman) earned 1st place speaker and Clement Cantil (sophomore) placed 3rd overall in the event. Calvin Brigham received a 6th place speaker award. Machado Mijiga and Rosa Tobin both finished strong with 4-2 records (4 wins, 2 losses). The Lincoln-Douglas topic was - "Resolved: Economic Sanctions ought not be used to achieve foreign policy objectives."

In novice Public Forum Bryan Preston (freshman) and Nic Clifton both received awards for being amongst the top ten speakers. This was the first time either student had competed in the event. The Public Forum topic was "Resolved: President Obama's plan in Afghanistan is in the best interests of the United States."

Marisol Beck (freshman), Carrie Moore (freshman), Julia Cosma (freshman), and Kera Parsons (freshman) also attended the tournament and all received positive comments and high marks from judges on their ballots.

Overall, despite having started a new program and having to cancel two tournaments due to weather, Walla Walla High School students have been ranked top competitors and won awards at every tournament they have attended.

We are very grateful for the support of community members, parents and the Walla Walla School District whose contributions made attending this tournament possible. A special thanks to Annie Capestany and Fred Moore who accompanied us to the tournament as judges. Our next competition is February 12th and 13th in Pasco, Washington. It is the State qualifying tournament.