Prairie View Debate Team Qualifies for State!
Trek to State Ends a Long, Full Season
by John Heidrick
January 20, 2010
Varsity debaters Cattie Craig and Brittanie Johnson capped a highly successful and busy debate season by earning the right to compete at the State Debate Tournament on January 22-23, in Wichita. To qualify for State, Cattie and Brittanie had to win an average of 50% or more of their rounds in four different tournaments. Their overall record for the season was 10 wins and 8 loses in four separate tournaments. Cattie and Brittanie's strongest outing was at Southeast High School where they went 4-1, medaled, and tied for third.
Along with Ellis Cole and Michael Fraser, Cattie and Brittanie also competed in the Four Speaker Regional Debate Tournament hosted this year at Ft. Scott High School in December. Although the results were disappointing for the Prairie View squad, this was the debate team's first appearance at the regional meet in at least six years.
Ellis and Michael also followed a busy debate schedule. Ellis, a seasoned and polished debater, teamed up with first-year debater, Michael, and together they participated in four tournaments, including the Four Speaker Regional. Michael had to balance a demanding varsity football schedule along with debate.
Prairie View hosted the Pioneer League Debate Tournament in November. League teams include Anderson County, Osawatomie, and Prairie View. To meet the five-team criteria for the tournament, the League invited Chanute and Santa Fe Trail High Schools. The Debate Squad posted a 4-4 record for the tournament and finished fourth place.
The trip to Wichita culminates a long debate season that started in August with Baylor University's National Debate Clinic hosted at Shawnee Mission South High School. Cattie, Brittanie, Ellis, Michael, Tyler Breedlove, and Matt Olsen all attended. Next year's national debate question is: Resolved - The United States federal government should substantially reduce its military and/or police presence in one of more of the following: South Korea, Japan, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq, Turkey.
