It requires diligent preparation, quick thinking, and a fine-tuned delivery. Debate’s difficulty is what makes Jesuit’s performance at a recent tournament impressive.
Five teams of Ranger debaters visited Newman Smith High School two weeks ago to compete against thirty other pairs from various local schools. After two days of ardent argumentation, three of Jesuit’s teams came away with points counting towards their state qualification total: Greg Tan ’17 and Ben Miller ’18, Ethan Jackson ’19 and Chris Tran ’19, and Jack Madden ’19 and Pete Weigman ’19. Only coming up short in the quarterfinal round of competition, all three pairs earned fifth place honors and had winning records of 4-0, 3-1, and 3-1 respectively.
It was the first debate tournament for each of the five teams there, so to have most of them catch points as well as valuable experience impressed many. “It was exciting to see them at their first tournament,” said coach Mr. Dan Lingel.
Miller, one of the winning debaters, spoke about his experience: “I was very nervous because it was my first tournament this year, but after the first debate it went away and I had a blast! Greg and I made it to quarters and lost on a heartbreaking 2-1 decision.”
The skill of the younger teams bodes well for future competitions. Two of the fifth place teams were comprised of sophomores, and another Jesuit sophomore is even debating with a senior this year. Weigman and Madden, in particular, were recognized at the tournament as they were awarded individual speaker awards. Weigman won second, and Madden won fifth out of all of the students present, including more experienced juniors and seniors. They took home bobbleheads of a Trojan, Newman Smith’s mascot, as trophies. “This group of sophomores has been really working hard,” said Lingel. “You can tell they think about debate and talk about it outside of practice.”
With its performance at Newman Smith, Jesuit now has six teams with points that could qualify them for the state tournament in March. Mr. Lingel said that debate’s “big goal every year is to qualify as many teams as possible to the state tournament. That’s how you earn a varsity letter in debate.”
After only two tournaments this year, most of Jesuit’s nine teams are on the board, so keep an eye on debate. It’s shaping up to be a successful year.
