In Varsity Policy debate, Marquette’s top team of Gaurav Bhatnagar and Nolan Wanecke cleared to the double-octafinals as the tournament’s 30th seed. After getting off to a solid 3-0 start in the preliminary rounds with wins over Shawnee Mission East High School (Prairie Village, Kansas), Loyola High School (Los Angeles, California), and New Trier Township High School (Winnetka, Illinois), the duo lost round four to the top team from Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville, Tennessee). A solid win in round five against fellow-Jesuit St. Ignatius High School (Cleveland, Ohio) put the Hilltoppers in good position, but a disappointing loss to Wayzata High School (Plymouth, Minnesota) left Gaurav and Nolan with a 4-2 record and made round seven a “must-win.” Paired against local rivals (and friends) from Brookfield Central High School (Brookfield, Wisconsin), Marquette prevailed and finished the prelims at 5-2.

A tough match-up in the doubles awaited as the Hilltoppers debated R.J. Giglio and Cameron Goldsmith from Caddo Magnet High School (Shreveport, Louisiana), the tournament’s third seed and one of only three teams to accumulate a perfect 7-0 record during the prelims. One of the most successful teams in the country, Caddo won the coin flip and elected to defend the negative. After a very close debate, R.J. and Cameron prevailed on a split decision with Brett Bricker (University of Kansas) and David Heidt (Emory University and the Westminster Schools) in the majority and Roy Levkowitz (Woodward Academy) voting for Marquette.

Despite the disappointing exit in the first elimination round, Gaurav and Nolan put together a performance to be proud of. In addition to becoming the first Marquette team to reach the elims since Ankur Aggarwal and Manav Bhatnagar finished second in the fall of 2001, Gaurav was recognized as the tournament’s 17th speaker out of a field of 372 debaters from throughout the country.

Marquette’s junior team of Garrett Fields and Mark Kettler also performed well at the Glenbrooks, managing a 4-3 record despite a very difficult preliminary draw. With losses to Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas (Dallas, Texas), Lexington High School (Lexington, Massachusetts), and The Greenhill School (Dallas, Texas), the duo debated three teams that reached the elimination rounds including the eventual champions (Greenhill). It was by far the best showing of the season for this promising team and is something to build on for the rest of their junior campaign.

The Webster Club was also represented in Junior Varsity Policy debate, a very competitive division that brings together the best second-year students from schools throughout the United States. Despite having the squad’s top second-year debater (Garrett Fields) competing in the varsity division, the Hilltoppers fielded two strong teams that each managed 2-4 records: Ben Benson and Jacob Sirus and Noah Charles and John O’Neill. After John was forced to withdraw from the tournament with an illness during the second day, Noah competed on his own and earned the division’s eighth speaker award, a very impressive accomplishment.

Rounding out the policy squad was the novice pair of David Glaubke and Michael Sirus, a Public Forum debater who filled in admirably in the policy division. While these freshmen managed only a 1-5 record, they nonetheless gained valuable experience and had an enjoyable time in Illinois.

While the policy squad formed more than half of Marquette’s entry, the Webster Club was also well-represented in the tournament’s other divisions.

In Lincoln-Douglas debate, junior Jacob Swan braved the incredibly competitive Varsity division that included 204 debaters from more than 30 states. Finishing with a 2-5 record, Jacob equalled the mark posted by fellow-Wisconsin competitors from Appleton East, Brookfield East, and Neenah and was bested only by Sheboygan North’s Noah Trilling (3-4). While another win or two would have been more satisfying, the LD team captain nonetheless gained valuable experience against top-notch debaters.

In the Junior Varsity LD division, fellow-junior Paul Foy (a second-year debater) racked up a 3-3 record at his first national tournament. Particularly gratifying for Paul was the manner in which he reached .500: after dropping his first three rounds, he righted his personal ship and was victorious in rounds four through six.

In addition to policy and LD, Marquette made their national circuit debut at the Glenbrooks in Public Forum debate. While they struggled to a 1-5 record, senior Dan Garces and junior Robert Schlaeger made Webster Club history and gained valuable exposure to the strategies used by teams in states as far away as California, New York, and Texas. As Marquette continues to build its Public Forum program into one of the best in Wisconsin, these two students will be remembered as pioneers who paved the way for future Hilltoppers in this exciting event.

Finally, junior Peter Andersen competed in Dramatic Interpretation, one of six individual events offered by the Glenbrooks. The captain of the Webster Club’s interpretation and acting team during the forensics season, Peter became the first “forensics” speaker from Marquette to enter a national tournament during the fall semester in several years. Performing a selection from Jeffrey Hatcher’s play Three Viewings entitled “Tell-Tale,” Peter received valuable feedback and got his first taste of national circuit forensic competition. Peter’s participation is sure to provide an excellent springboard for his Wisconsin forensics season and he will be counted on as one of the squad’s leaders when the Hilltoppers attempt to capture their fourth consecutive State Championship in April.

While in-state competition doesn’t begin until January, Hilltopper speakers and actors will begin practicing during the fall with an eye toward repeating as State Champions for the fourth consecutive season. In addition to competitive goals, the team will attempt to dramatically expand participation through a multi-faceted recruiting strategy that highlights the benefits of participation while offering flexibility for busy students.

If you are unable to attend the workshop, please contact Mr. Batterman for more information about the team.

A few important developments occurred during the fall meetings. In debate, the WDCA rejected a proposal regulating laptop usage during rounds in favor of continuing the existing policy that gives discretion to tournament directors. The James Madison Memorial program also announced that they will be unable to host a tournament this November; the Hilltoppers will seek an alternate destination for our students that weekend.

On the forensics side, several important changes were made to category rules and the topics for Moments in History, Public Address, Special Occasion, Storytelling, and Group Discussion were approved for the 2006-2007 season.

The following changes were made to categories:

1. The time limit for both Solo Acting categories (Humorous and Serious) was changed from eight minutes to ten minutes effective this season.
2. The time limit for both Group Interpretation and Play Acting was changed from twelve minutes to ten minutes effective the 2007-2008 season.
3. In Special Occasion, a rule was added that “visual supporting material may be used but not worn.”
4. The grace period (for those categories which have a 30-second grace period) was reduced from 30 seconds to 15 seconds effective the 2007-2008 season.
5. Lincoln-Douglas Debate was eliminated as a sanctioned category.

The topics for Moments in History, Public Address, Special Occasion, and Storytelling are as follows:

1. Moments in History: 1770-1800 The Age of Revolution
2. Public Address:
   • The Right To Die: Under what circumstances should a person have the right to terminate his or her own life?
   • Tuition: What effect, if any, is the rising cost of tuition having on access to higher education?
   • Cell Phone Use: To what extent, if any, should cell phone use be regulated?
   • Global Warming: What impact, if any, does global warming have on the environment?
3. Special Occasion:
   • Speech of Welcome
   • Acceptance of Nomination or Office
   • Sales/Fundraising Presentation
   • Patriotic Speech
4. Storytelling:
   • American South
   • How or Why Story
   • Story of Rumor, Gossip, Exaggeration
   • Brother Grimm Story
   • A Story Involving Gold

The Group Discussion topics for each weekend are available on the WFCA website or by contacting Mr. Batterman.

The following photos are from the Advanced Seminar at the WDCA Workshop.

Students from Appleton West, Bradley Tech, Hortonville, Merrill, Mukwonago, Rufus King, and Sheboygan North attended the Advanced Lab.

During the workshop students learned about the 2006-2007 national service topic, advanced disadvantage theory and practice, and debating critiques and framework arguments.

Neil Jackson from Merrill High School.

If you were unable to make it to tonight’s meeting, please contact Mr. Batterman and he will provide you a copy of the materials.

Forensics

• Team Captain - Patrick Carter
• Public Speaking Captain - Dana Skold
• Interpretation/Acting Captain - Peter Andersen
• Group Discussion Captain - Greg Herbers

Debate

• Team Captain - Gaurav Bhatnagar
• Policy Debate Captain - Nolan Wanecke
• Lincoln-Douglas Debate Captain - Jacob Swan
• Public Forum Debate Captain - Dan Garces

Together, these eight individuals will serve on the Webster Club Leadership Forum where they will help guide the program. Specifically (from the handbook):

Captains will be recognized in various ways during the season including at the Awards Ceremony and will be responsible for assisting the coaching staff, serving as a leader and central contact point for other team members, promoting involvement in the activity, and representing the team at various functions.

Congratulations to these talented and hard-working young men!

The most notable part of the Freshmen Recruiting Night was the leadership demonstrated by several of the Webster Club’s returning varsity members. Seniors Dana Skold, Patrick Carter, and Greg Herbers and junior Peter Anderson were on hand to represent the forensics program while seniors Gaurav Bhatnagar and Nolan Wanecke and juniors Garrett Fields and Jake Sirus represented their teammates from the debate squad. Each student shared a few thoughts with the freshmen and their parents, explaining a little about what they do as members of the Webster Club and sharing those benefits of their participation that have been particularly meaningful. Several students discussed the improvements in self-confidence that their participation in speech provided while others noted the academic, social, and competitive benefits offered by participation in the Webster Club.

A few photos from the Freshmen Recruiting Night are available below the fold.

Some of the freshmen and their parents look on as returning varsity Webster Club members discuss the team.

Nolan Wanecke (‘07) discusses the debate program. The student presenters included (from left to right): Peter Andersen (‘08), Dana Skold (‘07), Patrick Carter (‘07), Gaurav Bhatnagar (‘07), Nolan Wanecke (‘07), Jake Sirus (‘08), Garrett Fields (‘08), and Greg Herbers (‘07).

A Webster Club gun show: (standing, left to right) Patrick Carter (‘07), Dana Skold (‘07), Gaurav Bhatnagar (‘07), Greg Herbers (‘07), Peter Andersen (‘08), (posing, left to right) Garrett Fields (‘08), Nolan Wanecke (‘07), Jake Sirus (‘08).