She steps up to the podium waiting for her opponent. The anxiety is there, because not only is this the final round, but junior Katie Mangham finds herself facing a college student from Louisiana State University Shreveport (LSUS).

“It’s scary going into it,” said Mangham. “You start feeling like you’re on their level and it’s exciting you can beat them.”

A tournament was held at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) Jan. 30. The debate team was up against only collegiate level teams, making them the only high school there. Nine of the debate team members made it to the outrounds, and Mangham won first in the novice division.

“It’s a double edged sword,” said sophomore Abby Rice. “It’s hard to be the only high school, but it feels good to beat a college kid.”

The debate team spends a lot of time in and out of school preparing for tournaments. Along with their classes, they practice twice a week for two hours, and the week before a tournament they practice every day after school.

The debate team members also participated in the Rotary Club’s Four Way Test Questions contest. The contest is a speech about a topic of choice and the questions must be answered. One: Is it truth? Two: Is it fair? Three: Does it foster good will and friendship? Four: Is it good to all concerned?

“I chose to write about inclusion of special needs children in school,” said junior Payton Hanby. “I chose it because my brother is autistic and I was speaking to people that could make a difference.”

Hanby finished in second and Rice finished in third receiving $250 in winnings. The contest started out as a first semester final, and the coach selected the members to compete, and the team has a lot to show for their hard work.

“I’m very glad with what I got,” said Hanby. “It doesn’t matter what place I got, just that I got the message out there. That’s what really matters to me.”