Debate team named IHSSA state debate champions

The Iowa High School Speech Association held the state debate tournament Jan. 8 and 9.

Hanah Kitamoto, Print Co-Editor-In-Chief
January 10, 2021

In the first-ever virtual Iowa High School Speech Association state debate tournament, the West High speech and debate team were named state debate champions with a score of 423 points on Jan. 9. The debate team won three out of the four categories, placing first in Policy Debate, Lincoln Douglas Debate and Congress. Although the debate club had to switch to an online format this year, debate coach John Cooper believes the students adapted well and is proud of their accomplishment.

“The way students handled online debate this year has made working with them delightful,” Cooper said. “When I heard that we clinched it, I was over the moon. These kids are the best in the state and now they have the title.”

For Jane Lam ’24, her first varsity debate tournament was a great learning experience.

“It was really fun … it was really great to have that experience and also go against more advanced debate teams from different schools,” Lam said.

Policy Co-Champions
Aman Reddy ’23 & Miles Clark ’22 and Gautam Sharda ’21 & Matthew Bedell ’24

Lincoln Douglas Co-Champions
Heidi Du ’23, Nathan Weimar ’23, Hanae Matsumoto ’23 and Jayden Shin ’23

Student Congress

1st place: Advika Shah ’22
2nd Runner-up: Pakshal Jain ’22

Sweepstakes Trophy (Trophy given to the top school at the 2021 IHSSA State Debate tournament)

1st: Iowa City West

2nd: Dowling Catholic

3rd: Grinnell

4th: Okoboji

5th: Ames

More results can be found here.

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