Some service clubs and extracurricular sports may be all fun and games, but when it comes to the Speech and Debate team or the varsity and junior varsity Academic Teams, a little more than muscle is needed to win.
No one has more experience outwitting an opponent than senior Georgia Brunner. That’s because she has spent countless hours since her freshman year researching topics, preparing arguments, and writing contentions that make her competitors forfeit. Like a prizefighter, Brunner is ready to verbally battle her opponents at every round. That experience landed her at the National Speech and Debate Tournament three straight summers. This year, Brunner has already qualified for the Varsity State Tournament in the spring.
Brunner’s expertise is in Public Forum Debate, or PF. In PF, Brunner and her partner, sophomore Annefloor DeGroot, research the pros and cons of a topic and prepare to argue either side against their opponents. Brunner and DeGroot won two tournaments this year and qualified for the state tournament with their victory at Warner Robbins.
Because she attended the National Speech and Debate Tournament as a freshman, sophomore and junior, Brunner will receive a scholarship worth $100 if she qualifies again this year.
Many other team members have been successful. Those who have also qualified for state in Public Forum are junior Faiz Aly, and seniors Daniel Temple and Jake Martin. Also qualifying are senior Valerie Harrison for Extemporaneous Speaking, sophomore Rocky Xu for Impromptu Speaking, and sophomore Lexi Nails for Lincoln Douglas Debate.
As members of the Speech and Debate team have proven, younger doesn’t necessarily mean weaker. Members of the Academic Team’s junior varsity A team rank highest among the Mill’s teams. After their first two monthly meets, they are ranked second in the Griffen RESA , and the junior varsity B team is ranked ninth. Varsity A sits in fourth place and the B team is close behind in sixth. Both teams expect to be ranked higher later in the season, adviser Nancy Close said.
“I’m really excited that our varsity B team is doing so well,” Close said. “I’m optimistic that over the next few weeks both teams will be in the top four and advance to the state meet.” The Academic Team competes in a mixture of RESA and GATA tournaments.
New to the Academic Teeam and already on varsity A is junior Ethan Hatcher, who sees a lot of potential for his team. If they want to go to state, they need to keep winning.
“Even though several of the people on the team are athletic and play sports, this is a whole different competition that tests a different capacity, more mental and not physical,” Hatcher said. “I think overall we’re doing great. Since there are several new members on varsity, we’re still getting used to playing with each other as a team, but it’s working out wonderfully.”