Schaumburg HS debaters win first state title
For the first time in school history, Schaumburg High School has captured the Illinois High School Association state debate title. The competition was held at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington March 16-17.
Senior Kali Froh, a varsity four-year debater, led the charge into the final round to help the Saxons claim the state championship in the Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
The topic for this debate was: “Resolved: Targeted killing is a morally permissible foreign policy tool.” All competitors must prepare for both sides of the argument, which means they must debate both affirmative and negative aspects of the issue.
In one round, they will claim that the resolution is valid, then, in another round, they will claim it is not. Students must use their knowledge of philosophy, rhetoric and political science in order to succeed.
Schaumburg High School advanced three debaters into the elimination rounds after five preliminary debates. Teams that qualify for the elimination rounds must have high records (winning the argument in the debate) and high speaker points (how they deliver their arguments). Many teams could be tied in regard to their record, so the students with higher speaker points advance.
Students with the highest speaker points earning a spot on the All-State Debate Team: Palak Patel (senior, varsity four-year debater) took seventh place; Aru Singh (senior, varsity four-year debater) finished fourth; and Kali Froh (senior, varsity four-year debater) won first place and was named the captain of the All-State Debate Team.
It is important to note that sometimes a team that wins the entire tournament does not place students on the All-State Debate Team, but the Saxons did qualify for this distinction.
Besides the speaker awards, Schaumburg High School emerged as the victor of the entire tournament by having one student remaining after eliminating anyone else through quarters, semis, and the final debate.
The Schaumburg High School Debate Team sponsor is English teacher Darrell Robin, who started coaching the Saxons seven years ago when the team consisted of just five students. Since then, the team has grown to more than 50 debaters.
The coaching staff also includes Carl Schwartz, a former state champion from Elk Grove High School; art teacher Colleen Singer; English teacher Kate Ksiazek; and Sam Haque, a former Schaumburg High School student and debater.
Schaumburg High School will have the opportunity to represent its community and Illinois at the 2012 National Forensic League Debate Tournament this June in Indianapolis, Ind.