FCHS  Debate was one of 36 schools from four states to compete at the Cheyenne East Holiday Classic held December 14-15.  The effort resulted in a lively team celebration at Village Inn and Little America, as the team placed First in the seven debate categories offered and Third overall in the largest schools category.  This year, the team has had many Firsts in Debate Sweepstakes, but it it unusual to pick up an overall sweepstakes, as the team did not enter the twelve dramatics categories. What it took was top finishes totaling eleven trophies for First to Third  and two Fourths, all in debate, to outscore Cherry Creek HS 50-49 in debate, and to finish ahead of all schools but Creek and Overland HS in the overall point totals.  (At 27 debaters, the team numbered half the size of Overland and a third the size of Creek!)

 

The large number of teams in each category made success doubly difficult.  In Varsity Public Forum Debate, for example, Sean Rau ** and Tyler Thiret were 7-0 to place First, ahead of 58 other teams. Of the 43 teams in Varsity Policy Debate, Ian Ingraham and Alex Reid placed Third, and Scott Carney and Ruwan Jayasumana placed Fourth, both ahead of almost 40 teams each. Also in Varsity Congressional Debate, of 134 competitors divided into four chambers, both Sean Rau and Erica Garfinkle had to finish ahead of 30 each to win Second Place trophies.

 

In the novice categories, Collins' novice debaters did equally well, each against 15 to 25 teams.  Placing Second in Public Forum was the team of Ryan Campbell and Andy Carroll at 6-1.  Third in forum was the team of Kevin Butcher and Casey Pham.  And Third in Lincoln/Douglas Debate, at 5-1, was Max Roschke.  (Max also did the Varsity category where he finished a respectable 2-2.  Overall, he was 7-3 and a bit exhausted!)

 

Other debaters who were 3-1 and just missed the "cut" were PF ers Taylor Ray and Zach Szlendak, and L/D ers Tamara DuBose and Michael Jin**. In all, 26 of the debaters were .500 or better, earning a whopping 15 new degrees in the National Forensic League at this one tournament!  And we had fun
** Please make note that Michael Jin and Sean Rau are FRHS students who debate with the FCHS team.

Fort Collins High School | Last Updated - 3/12/08