Packets of articles dense with vibrant lines of highlighting are scattered among cafeteria tables. High school students high on adrenaline thumb frantically through cases that have been exhausted by hours of review. If you listen closely, the tapping of anxious heels almost seem to synchronize with the constant hum of articulate voices. To the foreign ear, one can’t possibly imagine what would be responsible for such a sound. But to the CHS Speech and Debate team, these sounds all add up to one thing—a debate tournament.
Recently, the CHS Speech and Debate team attended the Glendale/Kickapoo Speech and Debate Tournament in Springfield, MO. Team members took advantage of the four-hour bus ride by completing final preparation protocols, bonding with fellow members, and when all was done— belting out show tunes. In addition to the varied level of singing voices the team had, the methods taken in preparation for the tournament also differed drastically throughout the team.
“We had everything down about a week beforehand,” sophomore Ian Tarr said. “The extent of it involved writing our cases and researching, which was a gradual process.”
Tarr participated in Public Forum, in which the resolution debated varies each month, along with his partner sophomore Noam Kantor. The two debated on the resolution resolved, “NATO presence improves the lives of Afghan Citizens”.
With the sides taken of each round determined by a coin toss, Tarr and Kantor had to prepare cases arguing for both pro and con. Although this highlights the basic routine of debaters, those who participated in other events such as humorous/dramatic interpretation and original oratory took a path much different from Tarr’s.
“After finding a satisfying piece, I copied the piece in writing,” said junior Jasmin Singh, a second year speech and debate team member. “I find that this process helps me memorize my story as well as get the rhythm of the piece.”
Singh participated in Duo Interpretation with her partner Josh Howsmon, a first time participant of the event. They performed “Kafka on the Shore” by Haruki Murakami. Although the two did not place in finals, they walked away with smiling, confident faces.
“I wasn’t really expecting much,” Signh said. “It was the first time me and my duo partner actually got to practice in front of a group of people. I think we did much better than I thought we would. Overall, it was a really fun experience!”
Likewise, the addition of a great number of novices this year had the team motivated, yet with little idea of what to expect.
“I think the novices this year add a lot of talent to this team and they bring a lot of different perspective to the team,” senior Ikshu Neithalath said. “I think there is a reciprocal relationship between varsity and novice; we learn through helping them and we enjoy watching them grown and improve.”
Going in, the team expected this tournament to be a learning experience and a chance for team building.
“The first tournament of the year is always unpredictable,” Speech and Debate Coach Brenda Bollinger said. “At this point in the season, my expectations are that the students prepare as much as possible, do their best in competition, present themselves with confidence, and make a good impression on all with whom they come in contact.”
Furthermore, this expectation was commonly shared among all the team members.
“I was expecting to gain my first experience as a debater,” senior Tyler Markham said. “I wanted to learn what actually went down in a round, how I would respond under pressure, and how well my preparation would prepare me for the actual debate.”
The CHS Speech and Debate team, however, greatly surpassed their goals. Everyone returned home at 2 a.m. on Sunday with something they gained from the experience, whether it was improved debate skills, new friends, or even a big shiny trophy.
“I was incredibly proud of everybody,” said senior Becca Steinberg, president of the CHS Speech and Debate team. “It was a huge tournament–just to give some examples, there were 50 teams in novice public forum and over a hundred in varsity Lincoln Douglass and public forum. However despite the huge numbers we definitely kicked butt!”
Even those who did not place were very professional and represented the CHS team well.
“What this tournament has shown is the potential strength of the Clayton team for the 2010-2011 Season,” Bollinger said. “As the season progresses, our students will continue to be impressive and worthy contenders. My expectations [for the Glendale/Kickapoo tournament] were met and exceeded.”