High School

The debaters have plenty of reasons to smile this year. They qualified two teams to the national CFL tournament and one team to the national NFL tournament. (Photo by Christina Carter)

Debaters qualify to national summer tournaments

By Jill Lira

December 15, 2005

Debaters at Silver Lake High School are known for being strong in small numbers. This year, the squad consisted of 16 debaters, nine being novices. Along with the small numbers, the squad has had to fend for themselves more than usual with personal absences from head debate coach, Gail Naylor. However, this has not stopped the squad from winning.

The team consists of seniors Joshua Ruby, Colin Wilstead and Alex Oyler; juniors Nick Miller, Courtney Brokaw, Donnie Hanson, Ashley Hanson and Emy Ladner; sophomores Lainey Roberson, Codi Spiker, and Paulina Rudolph; and freshmen Trent Strunk, Stephanie McGee, Jenna Yoder, Autumn Runyan and Katy Cairns.

Debate partners Miller and Oyler, and Brokaw and D. Hanson, qualified for the National Catholic Forensics League (CFL) tournament, which will be held in Chicago over Memorial Day weekend. Miller and Oyler also got invited to the Debate Coaches Invitational (DCI), which includes a selective 24 teams around the state of Kansas ranging from 1A-6A schools.

Miller and Oyler, and Brokaw and D. Hanson, also competed at the National Forensics League (NFL) qualifier held in Manhattan, Kan. NFL takes the top teams to compete at a national level each year. This year, Miller and Oyler qualified for the competition in Dallas this summer.

The debate novices have also created some season highlights. Recently, the novices ventured to Rossville. Ruby and Cairns clinched first, and Spiker and Roberson placed sixth. Ladner and Rudolph recently placed second at the Highland Park High School Invitational.

This year, Oyler is adding to his achievements by setting high goals and accomplishing them.

"I have medaled four times, and my biggest achievement was winning Manhattan this year. I want to do well at DCI," Oyler stated.

With the absence of Naylor, the team has become more unified and the novices have had to turn to the upperclassmen. Oyler commented on how the team has adapted.

"At the beginning of the season, it was very detrimental, but it has gotten better," Oyler commented.