AHS Hosts State Debate Tourney, Finishes 5th

by Linda Langford, photos provided by Cayce Hansel

The Avon High School Debate Team hosted the Indiana State Debate Tournament last weekend. Over two days, 35 high schools, 600 debaters and 150 volunteer judges and coaches participated in the tournament, all held at AHS.

The Avon Debate team, in just its sixth year of existence, finished in 5th place in the State Team Competition.

Individual standout performance among Avon Debaters included:

• The World Schools Debate team of Andrew Onochie, Jay Desai, Sabela Melaku, Nancy Orogun, and Kayden Saylor, which finished 2nd in the State out of 26 World Schools teams.
• Janani Devedran, who finished 3rd in the state in Student Congress out of 65 event competitors.
• Santiago Jiminez, who finished 3rd in the state in Lincoln Douglas Debate out of 66 event competitors.
• Gerardo Angel Gomez-Merecias, who finished 9th in the state in Student Congress out of 65 event competitors.

Congratulations also go to Avon debaters Fola Ayantoye, Liam Reilly and Jade Price for advancing into elimination rounds.

Finally, A big thank you and congratulations to Avon Debate Coaches: Tyler Brock, Mike Langford, and Meghan Walpe.

With the debate season now concluded, the Avon team will turn its focus to the remaining speech season, which concludes at the State Speech Tournament on March 14.