Debate Team to Send Two to State Competitions

As the debate season has come to a close, two seniors, Adrienne Hunt and Manali Gokhale, have qualified for the state competition on April 20 at the University of Missouri in Columbia.

Even though they went 13-1 last season in the Novice Public Forum Debate, they have made many improvements in comparison to their junior years. 

“I’m definitely a lot more successful this year compared to last.  I moved up to the Champ level, which is harder than Novice and Varsity, but I’ve also stepped up my debating skills, so I’ve been very successful,” said Hunt.

As a junior, Hunt and Gokhale both started at the Novice level, so to qualify for the Champ level and qualify for state, they had to put in days of hard work and practice.

“I’m definitely a lot more comfortable compared to last year,” said Gokhale.  “I don’t get nervous.  When we’re working together, we help prepare cases and during the debates we help each other.”

Debate coach Mike Hazelton said, “Strictly from an intelligence standpoint, they’re bright girls who are well aware of current events.  I think a lot of classes they’ve taken have helped them develop that critical thinking ability.  When you put those together it makes a great debate team.”

Besides giong to state in Debate, both students were named National Merit Finalists and will use their knowledge to help them win at state. Hazelton said, “There are thirty plus teams in the division.  Do they have a chance to win it?  Absolutely.  It depends on how well written their case is.”

Written by Daniel Brodsky