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<p class="fontlook"><B>CARROLLTON DEBATE</B>

 

<p class="fontlook"><img src="../new_images/8may2609a2.jpg" align=right>The last few months of Carrollton Debate have proved the strength and skill of this successful team :

 

<p class="fontlook">After sacrificing their entire Easter break to prepare, debate students went to the National Debate Coaches Association’s (NDCA) national championship in Las Vegas. On the first day, they finished 3-1, with a singular loss to a team that will likely end up in the top five overall nationally. On the second day, they rattled off three straight wins, passing the total win number of Dorothy Anne Hector and Catalina Santos as Seniors. After realizing that we now had a young team ranked sixth in the country, we were surprised to find them also in the Top 20 speakers. Helen Gomez was 14th and Anna Dimitrijevic was the 10th best speaker in the nation. In elimination rounds, they lost a narrow debate to Glenbrook North on a 2-1 decision finishing Monday afternoon. They had advanced a single elimination round further than any Carrollton team in NDCA history. Congratulations to these students for their effort.

 

<p class="fontlook">Upon return from the National tournament we were informed that Junior Alina Gomez had been admitted to the prestigious Yale Scholars program for Lincoln Douglas Debate. It is far and away the most prestigious LD program. She will spend weeks with some of the nation’s best political minds discussing philosophy and competing. 

 

<p class="fontlook">This capped a rebuilding year for Carrollton Debate. After the graduation of national quarter finalists Dorothy Hector and Catalina Santos, it was expected that the season to follow would be a slow one. Out of the gates though, Sophomore Anna Dimitrijevic and Camilla Hernandez took first place in the Michigan Round Robin ( our 3rd appearance in their final round in four years). Weeks later, two teams earned their qualifying bids for the Tournament of Champions. Helen Gomez, Lauren Sisak, Anna Dimitrijevic and Camilla Hernandez all earned bids. Dimitrijevic was the first in Carrollton history to do so as a sophomore. 

<p class="fontlook"><img src="../new_images/8may2609a1.jpg" align=left>Next, Helen Gomez and Anna Dimitrijevic had a 4th place finish at Vestavia Hills, Alabama while ninth graders Valeria Villa and Fabiola earned first place in the novice division ( second year in a row for Carrollton ).

 

<p class="fontlook">In terms of rebuilding it was a very successful year. All of the aforementioned students will be returning to debate next year.


 
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