Five members of the New Trier debate team rounded out an award-winning season by recently competing at the Tournament of Champions — a competition considered to be the premier national championship in high school debate, officials said.
The tournament, which was hosted by the University of Kentucky on April 27-29, featured policy debate seniors Josie Ewing and Hannah Kadin, who placed in the top eight nationally after advancing to the quarterfinals of the tournament, New Trier spokeswoman Lia Kass said.
The duo defeated teams from California, Illinois, Nevada, New York and Pennsylvania, and Hannah was also awarded the 12th place individual speaker award out of 156 debaters, Kass said.
Debate team members Jack Altman and Roland Kim won four out of seven debates, missing elimination rounds by just one ballot, and member Max Rosen, who competed in Congressional debate at the tournament, advanced to the semifinals, placing him in the top third of 138 debaters, Kass said.
“Even qualifying to compete at the Tournament of Champions is a feat in and of itself,” Coach David Weston said in a statement.
Students earn “bids” throughout the year by advancing to elimination rounds at regional and national tournaments, Weston said, adding: “A vast majority of high school debaters will not achieve the right to compete at this event.”
While New Trier’s competitive debate season is over, Weston said students are already making plans for the next school year, with several members planning to attend summer debate workshops at universities across the U.S. to hone their skills.
kcullotta@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @kcullotta