This past weekend, on October 8, 2011, the Jesuit Varsity Debate team finished 5th in the Southlake Carroll Debate Invitational. The team of sophomores Jackson Pyke and James Abbot, sophomore Jeff Melsheimer and junior Grant VanKirk, and the team of sophomore James Ferrara and junior Ryan Tan made it to the elimination rounds for the first time this season.
“It was really cool to clear to the elimination rounds for the first time,” says VanKirk, because it showed how much I have improved since I started last year.” The teams all gained 2 points out of the 10 maximum to qualify for the TFA State Tournament in March. “My main goal is to qualify for state, so getting 2 state points was a huge success [for] me,” added VanKirk. “Ultimately though, I just want to enjoy debating, [go] to tournaments, and have fun with my fellow classmates.”
The team will try to keep their success going this weekend with debates against our neighborhood rival St. Marks.
