Five ninth graders from the Novice Lincoln-Douglas (LD) debate team finished first at the Harvard-Westlake Debates tournament, which took place from Jan. 15 to 19.
The Novice debaters competed at the Upper School on Saturday and Sunday, with rounds lasting from 8:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. These students have been working hard in preparation for this tournament, where they have consistently attended practices multiple times a week. The weekend consisted of five preliminary rounds, with only eight debaters being able to advance to elimination rounds out of 36 debaters.
In the Novice LD division, Annabel Lin ’29, Ayla Rahmani ’29, Emmanuel Canesco ’29, Jaimee Lee ’29 and Sydney Lee ’29 finished the preliminary rounds with records of 2-3 or better. Lin went 5-0 and Sydney Lee went 4-1, earning them a spot in the top eight. Lin advanced to the quarterfinals, while Sydney Lee was the tournament champion on a 2-1 decision.
On just her third tournament, Sydney Lee placed first in the Novice Lincoln-Douglas division. Sydney Lee said her previous tournament experience and support from her teammates and coach contributed to her performance.
“I am really proud of the preparation that we did before the tournament,” Sydney Lee said. “The work we put in beforehand really showed during the rounds, and I think that played a big role in our success. My previous tournaments helped me understand the styles in which other schools debate, which was something that made a difference at this tournament. Being able to compare their styles to our own arguments and preparation helped me feel more ready going into each round.”
For some students, this was their first debate competition that they have ever competed in, which included Lin, a Quarterfinalist.
“I was surprised and proud to go 5-0 in the prelims, especially since it was my first time competing and others had much more experience,” Lin said. “As the tournament went on, I got the hang of things, and even though I lost in the quarterfinals, that round ended up being the most fun. Overall, I really enjoyed the experience and made some great memories.”
Assistant Director of Debate Khamani Griffin was proud of the students staying focused as well as encouraging each other throughout their rounds. Griffin was also proud that the team was able to defend the champion title for the second year in a row.
“We stayed focused throughout the entire tournament,” Griffin said. “The kids know that winning isn’t just about results, but also how you show up each round. Seeing them support one another while still competing at a high level really means a lot to me. I am especially proud of the team for retaining our champion title for the second year.”
Rahmani said debaters who were not competing in their own rounds assisted teammates who had advanced to elimination rounds by helping write cases and prepare arguments.
“Something fun about the tournament was being able to help my teammates that were in the Elimination rounds,” Rahmani said. “The team and I helped write cases that they read and won within their rounds, which was really exciting for all of us. Being able to work together to secure the win made the experience even more memorable for me.”
With this strong finish, the team continues to get ready for their upcoming tournaments.
“I’m really excited to see some of the students we haven’t sent to a tournament yet get their chance to perform,” Griffin said. “There are so many hard workers on the team and I’m looking forward to seeing who’s ready to showcase their skills.”
The team’s next event is the Golden Desert Debate Tournament, which is set to be held on Feb. 1-3.
