Debaters post win
Nancy Horst, Special to the Gazette
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Emporia High School seniors Kathryn Scherich and Drew Bonnet won the varsity division championship at the Washburn Rural High School Invitational Debate Tournament held Friday and Saturday. According to debate coach Scott Bonnet, 57 teams participated in the tournament which is the traditional kickoff for the high school debate season. The pair emerged from the six preliminary rounds as the second seed, headed into the quarterfinals where they won a 3-0 decision over seventh-seeded Rock Creek High School. In the semifinals EHS defeated 5th seed, Topeka High School by a 2-1 margin. The final round saw Emporia face-off with the tournament number one seed, Shawnee Mission West. Bonnet and Scherich won the final by a 2-1 margin.
The victory earned the duo an invitation to the Kansas Debate Coaches’ Invitational Tournament at Blue Valley North High School in January. Also known as the DCI Tournament, it is a showdown between the top teams from all six High School Activities Association classifications, coach Bonnet said.
Drew Bonnet distinguished himself as one of the best individual performers in the tournament by earning the top speaker rank in all nine rounds of competition. Both Bonnet and Scherich are being heavily recruited by elite college debate programs.
EHS also produced outstanding performances at two other tournaments on Saturday, with the junior pair of Oscar Lara and Juan Rios placing fifth at Independence High School. Senior Frank Rodriguez and freshman Samantha Richey were fifth at Gardner-Edgerton High School.
Emporia High will host its annual debate tournament this Friday and Saturday. Anyone in the community interested in judging is encouraged to contact coach Bonnet at 341-2365 or by email at sbonnet@usd253.org.
kseyetie (anonymous) says...
Great job! Debate is one of the best college (and life) prep courses they offer. Congratulations!
September 23, 2009 at 11:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )