Wayland High School debaters sweep Sailor Classic Tournamemt

The Wayland High School varsity debate group took first through fourth places in the team competition and six of the top ten individual awards at the Sailor Classic Debate Tournament Saturday at Rockford, hosted by Muskegon Mona Shores.

Coach Andrea Brown said, “they gained valuable experience as well as multiple awards… I am extremely proud of the team and I’m looking forward to the MSU tournament and state competition.”
The tournament held two divisions — Novice (first year competitors) and Open (JV/Varsity). Schools represented were East Kentwood, Forest Hills Central, Mona Shores, Northview, Rockford, Wayland and West Ottawa. Wayland locked out the competition in four preliminary rounds Saturday, making it unnecessary for a final round at the varsity level.

All of the students debated this year’s national topic which is curtailing domestic surveillance.
Individual speaker awards were presented to Trenton Woodcox (first place), Dylan Thompson (third place), Samantha Jones (fourth place), Lexie Walters (sixth place), Maddy Crawford (seventh place) and Alex Cameron (eighth place).
PHOTO: The Wayland varsity team consists of (standing, from left) Alex Cameron (12), Alexandria Walters (11), Samantha Jones (Captain, 12), Jon Seymour (11), Madalyn Crawford (Captain, 12), Makaila Huffman (10), Trenton Woodcox (Captain, 12), and Dylan Thompson (12). (Photo courtesy of Laurie Zywiczynski)