Debate, the clash of two conflicting sides in a civilized conversation. A noble art, and a difficult one for many, mixing a cocktail of public speaking with finding evidence to build a solid case to use and argue your point. All while you keep your cool in the face of an opponent who is supposed to be completely bull-headed toward your side of the argument.
“I’m really lazy, other people take days toiling over their case and trying to edit it to perfection. I just rush it and then edit it later, building on stuff that was attacked in the practice rounds, if you edit and change what you do depending on how people attack your case, that’s how you win tournaments,” said Sophomore Harrison Frawley.
Throughout the forty five minute rounds many things can happen. Tensions and emotions rising, and the worst part is the results are withheld until after the debaters get on the busses to go back to their schools after the first rounds are done. Not to mention the LNHS team takes pride in dominating the tournaments, maybe a little too much.
“I won 1st place in debate and 1st place in Extemporaneous speaking once last year. It’s great at first but then everyone else gets jealous and makes a big deal about it, but when someone loses everyone is very hard on each other and if you lose something, it’ll hang over you forever,” said Frawley.
But it isn’t all stress and pant-suits. Events like the debate tournaments are practically breeding grounds for hilarious experiences. Every debate kid has a story of something they thought was ridiculous or funny during a tournament.
“My favorite debate story is the time I bought Pad Thai and ate it in the gym while everyone else was at the awards ceremony or debating. Shady asian food is the best,” said Frawley.