Debaters reach semifinals at UGA

by Bill Wilson, Debate Team coach

The Debate Team finished a strong season despite tough opponents.
The USN debate season nearly ended two days earlier than planned, when the bus broke down coming over Monteagle en route to the University of Georgia on Friday, March 9. USN Bus Driver Eric Smith saved the day, arriving with a replacement bus to Jasper, Tenn. within two hours of the smoke clearing. This enabled a 4:55 p.m. arrival to Athens, Ga. The debaters then scrambled off the bus to their rounds, with some teams reaching their rooms within seconds of the 5 p.m. start time. 
 
Akash Kurupassery '18 and William Bradshaw '18 arrival was just in time and awarded with a round one pairing against the nation's top-ranked debater from Montgomery Bell Academy. The USN seniors had the toughest draw in the 39 team varsity division, meeting three of the eight quarterfinalists in preliminary competition. After a 0-2 start on Friday, March 9, the boys won four straight on Saturday, March 10, including a round six "break round" victory over MBA, good for a spot in the elimination bracket Sunday, March 12. As the 10th seed in the final 16, they fell on a 2-1 decision to Carrollton Sacred Heart of Florida, with the deciding vote cast by the head coach from MBA. 
 
Wei Dai '20 and Nicholas Clancy '20 finished 3-3 in varsity, a strong result for sophomores in a stacked field. 
 
Three USN teams cleared to the quarterfinal round in the novice division. Niles Clancy '21 and Oscar Fox '21 finished with a 5-1 record, good for the second seed in the bracket. They won a 3-0 decision over Northview High School of Georgia and then lost a 3-0 decision to Alpharetta High School of Georgia in the semifinals. Mayowa Kassim '21 and Wiley Barzelay '21 were the third seed after a 5-1 record in prelims. They lost to the same Alpharetta team in the quarterfinal round. Christopher Cheek '21 and Lucas Heckers '21 advanced on a 4-2 record. They dropped a close 2-1 decision to Cambridge High School of Georgia in the quarterfinals. Lauren French '21 and Neha Saggi '21 went 3-3 and just missed the quarters with a 10th place finish. 
 
Oscar, Christopher, Lauren, Niles, Lucas and Neha were the sixth, seventh, eighth, 10th, 11th and 15th place speakers, respectively, in the division. 
 
Congratulations to all the debaters for a strong finish to a fine season.
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