As the Speech and Debate season came to a close, the Mill’s team still had one last shot at glory, the varsity state tournament.
On March 8-9, coaches Brandon Kendall and Sean Hickey brought 10 team members to the campus of the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega to take part in the most competitive tournament of the year.
In order to qualify, participants had to reach the semifinal round of their respective events at any tournament prior to state. The Mill entered three public forum teams, two Lincoln Douglas debaters and two speech members.
“Our debate teams all won at least one round, and every member gained experience,” Kendall said. “I’m proud of our results.”
The most successful public forum debate team was composed of senior Georgia Brunner and sophomore Annefloor De Groot. The most successful Lincoln Douglas debater was sophomore Lexi Nails. “I came into the tournament prepared and hoping for a run at first place,” Nails said.
Lincoln Douglas and Public forum events used a five preliminary round system before “breaking” into quarterfinals. Both Brunner’s team and Nails won four of their preliminaries seeding them fifth and third, respectively. Brunner and De Groot won their quarterfinal round, but lost in semifinals. “I definitely think we could have done better, but I am proud of how far Annefloor and I got,” Brunner said. Brunner has been to every varsity state tournament since it was split three years ago into varsity and JV competitions.
Nails won her quarterfinal and semifinal round, which sent her to finals where she lost by a 3-0 decision to a student from Walker High School. “I was frustrated that I didn’t win my final round, but I was happy with the people I beat and how far I got.”
Nails will go to the national debate tournament in Birmingham, Alabama this summer along with junior Faiz Aly, who will participate in domestic extemporaneous speaking.
Along with Brunner, senior Daniel Temple participated in his last tournament. He partnered with sophomore Gianni Martino and the pair finished with a record of 2-3.
“Things happen, but Gianni and I did the best we could do,” Temple said.