By Cynthia Olea

Granada Hills Charter’s (GHC) Debate Team achieved a major victory at the September 28-29 Jack Howe Memorial Invitational held at California State University Long Beach. Lincoln-Douglas debaters discussed the following resolution: The United States ought to require a living wage for workers. With tournament days stretching from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., there’s no doubt that this is a tedious, yet rewarding event.

The tournament featured several outstanding debaters. Senior Soren Dela Pena remained undefeated (6-0)  and placed as a semifinalist in the JV Lincoln Douglas. She also earned ninth best speaker. In the Novice division, sophomore Katrin Manukyan placed as a semifinalist. Junior Ivy Pham earned her spot as an octafinalist in the Novice Lincoln Douglas competition. Meanwhile, in the Varsity Public Forum, senior Evan Shin and sophomore Ryan Shin placed as Triple-Octifinalists. 

The Debate Team has worked diligently over the past month to succeed at the Jack Howe Memorial Invitational. This tournament was especially important as it is one of the top ten debate tournaments in the country. 

“We study the topic published by the head coordinators of the debates a month prior and try to develop the best cases we can in order to succeed,” senior Fredric Andre De Quiros said. “ We must be prepared to face some of the best debaters from all over the country”

The competition hosted teams from all over California as well as teams from out state including Oregon, Washington, and Illinois. If debaters win the event within the varsity pool, they are eligible to obtain a bid to the prestigious invitational tournament, Tournaments of Champions, held at the University of Kentucky in April.

Throughout the weekend,  debaters participated in multiple rounds of competition. On Saturdays alone, there were five rounds of debate, each approximately 45 minutes long. Sunday consisted of elimination rounds, in which debaters with winning records competed in the hopes of advancing to the finals.

One of the most challenging aspects for participants is managing pressure during debate rounds. With high stakes and potential for a great award, debaters often feel a strong need to perform at their best and obtain optimal results, intensifying the overall experience. 

Preparation methods vary depending on each team member’s ranking (novice, Lincoln-Douglas, and Public Forum). Novice participants train by debating with each other, learning the skills they will need to succeed in future competitions. This develops their oratory skills and deepens their understanding of the topic of debate. In addition, all rankings develop a case and discuss all possible arguments to help themselves prepare. 

“I put a lot of time and effort into preparing for the debates in and outside of school,” Manukyan said. “I reviewed all the resources we accumulated and watched videos on the topic the night before the debate.”

There are many aspects that debaters consider rewarding. Whether they participate in the opportunity to enhance their oratory skills, build new friendships, or strengthen their college application, it takes high determination and dedication to succeed. 

“I’ve always had a big interest in public speaking and political topics,” Manukyan said. “I think the debate team is a safe space for everyone to improve their performance in public speaking.” 

If debaters proceed to maintain their dedication, they will continue to preserve their excellence in such intense debates like this one.