Webster Club Enjoys Successful Weekend at New Trier and Rufus King
Posted on October 13th, 2006 by Bill Batterman (Category: Public Forum Debate, Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Results, Policy Debate)
The Webster Club split its squad for the first time this season last weekend and the Hilltoppers were successful at both tournaments. In Winnetka, Illinois, seniors Gaurav Bhatnagar and Nolan Wanecke advanced to the quarterfinals of the highly-competitive New Trier Season Opener policy debate tournament while Marquette’s Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum teams each finished second at the Brigadier General Rufus King Tournament in Milwaukee.
At New Trier, Gaurav and Nolan compiled a 5-1 record during the preliminary rounds before defeating teams from Glenbrook North High School (Northbrook, Illinois) and Damien High School (La Verne, California) in their first two elimination debates. The tournament’s seventh seed, Marquette lost to the top team from Glenbrook North in the quarterfinals but nonetheless earned their third bid to the season-ending National Tournament of Champions at the University of Kentucky. Gaurav was recognized as the tournament’s sixth individual speaker while Nolan finished in the top thirty out of a field of 202 debaters from over 15 states.
Closer to home, senior Dan Garces and junior Robert Schlaeger became the first Public Forum team from Marquette to compete in elimination rounds as they finished second at both the Friday night and Saturday tournaments at Rufus King. A new event offered by the Webster Club this season, Public Forum is a two-person, switch-sides debate event that emphasizes persuasive communication to a lay audience. Freshmen Fernando Buchanon-Nogueron and Matthew Waldoch also fared well in their first tournament of the season as they helped the Webster Club Public Forum squad get off to a promising start.
Also at Rufus King, sophomore Joe Dobbs made a successful debut in Lincoln-Douglas debate as he advanced to the final round of Saturday’s tournament. Despite dropping to a debater from Sheboygan North, Joe qualified for the Wisconsin State Debate Tournament along with junior Jacob Swan and sophomore Sam Hope, who both finished as semifinalists.
In all, 15 students competed for the Webster Club this past weekend.
The team will be back in action on Saturday as the policy team travels to West Bend East and West High Schools for a one-day, four-person tournament. Six debaters—including the Hilltopper’s novice squad—will be making their season debuts.
Photos from New Trier and Rufus King are available below the fold.
The New Trier Squad (left to right): Gaurav Bhatnagar, David Gebhardt, Garrett Fields, Nolan Wanecke, Jake Sirus. (not pictured: Mark Kettler)
Mark Kettler discusses a previous round at New Trier.
David Gebhardt and Jake Sirus made their 2006 debuts at New Trier.
Gaurav Bhatnagar and Nolan Wanecke display their quarterfinals plaque from New Trier.
Christian DeHoyos (Damien High School in California) chills with Garrett Fields, Gaurav Bhatnagar, and Nolan Wanecke while waiting for pairings at New Trier.
Jacob Swan and Sam Hope pose for a picture at Rufus King. (photo by Nick Bubb)
Joe Dobbs, posing next to Nicolet coach Jason Chapman, finished in second place in Lincoln-Douglas Debate at the Rufus King tournament. (photo by Nick Bubb)
Dan Garces and Rob Schlaeger made history as they became the first Public Forum team from Marquette to (a) compete and (b) reach the elimination rounds. The duo finished second at Rufus King. (photo by Nick Bubb)
Former MUHS LDer Nick Henegar hangs out with current MUHS LDers Jacob Swan, Sam Hope, and Joe Dobbs at Rufus King. Nick is now a student at Kohler High School. (photo by Nick Bubb)