Wednesday, April 9, 2003

Debaters bound for nationals Members of the debate team at Starr's Mill High School are quickly gaining both local and national notoriety. The team has qualified seven competitors for the National Forensic League's National Debate Tournament, this is more than any other school in the state for the third year in a row. Every state, the District of Columbia and five territories compete at this tournament, adding up to more than 3,000 competitors, judges, coaches and chaperones in attendance. The 2003 competition is scheduled for June 14-21 in Atlanta. This year's qualifiers are David Ballard and Ian Davisson, DomesticExtemporaneous Speaking; Julia Wilson, International Extemporaneous Speaking; Brie Stanley and Ballard, Lincoln-Douglas Debate, and Gyawu Mahama and Ninette Cheng, Original Oratory. At the Georgia High School Association State Literary Competition March 22, the team placed third overall. Wilson, a sophomore, earned first place honors in Extemporaneous Speaking. She is also this year's state champion in her event. Other team members placing at the competition include Ballard, third, Extemporaneous Speaking; Craig Delorenzo, third, Dramatic Interpretation; Carlee Barker, fourth, Dramatic Interpretation; and Tracy Welch, fourth, spelling. Additionally, the team placed second at the Georgia Forensic Coaches' Association Lincoln-Douglas Debate State Championships with Stanley placing second and Meg Beyer taking 3rd in the competition. The debate team is coached by Sean Bennett. What do you think of this story? Click here to send a message to the editor. Back to the News Home Page| Back to the top of the page