The debate team has the privilege of exclusively competing against college circuit debate teams year round. Every year with new debaters there comes the first time for many students to face a college student in a battle of wits. Debate’s first tournament of the year begins Oct. 5 against University of Arkansas at Monticello.

“I’m pretty excited, anxious, definitely ready to win,” said sophomore Kerim Gales.

This will be Gales’ first debate tournament and has done much to prepare.

“I’m going to class and after school practice and learning from our veterans,” said Gale.

This will also be sophomore Xiomara Caldera’s first tournament as well.

“I’m really excited, anxious, nervous. I don’t know what to expect, but I’m really excited about making memories,” said Caldera.

Junior Ashlynn Mayes prepares by going to after-school practices and debating everyday in class, as well as reading news magazines to raise her awareness of current events.

“Familiarize with yourself and how you react so that you can deliberate quickly. Confidence, as cliché as it sounds, is a key thing,” said Mayes. “I’m very impressed with the novice. I think they’ll do fantastic.”

Senior Bridget Burton with her confident and charming debate style prepares for the competition and supports her team.

“I’m literally going to sleep for 12 hours before the tournament. We’re going to kick butt because we have so many great debaters,” said Burton.

President of the debate team, Harlee Marcum prepares her team and gives the novice debaters advice.

“I tell them my experiences and faults and how they should learn from them,” said Marcum.

Our efforts paid off as the team as a whole came in first place in team debate sweepstakes. The team also came in second place in individual debate sweepstakes and second place for overall sweepstakes.

Junior Abby Rice was awarded second place in team speakers as well as second in varsity, and senior Kate Mangham placed fourth place in varsity. Rice, Marcum, Mangham, and senior Nathan Hernandez were all finalists for team debate. Junior Jackson Matayo, senior Bridget Burton, sophomore Alex Oropaza, sophomore Kerim Gale, sophomore Katherine Campbell, sophomore Steven Tate, and senior Kristen Griffin were all finalists in the novice division.