The Wayland Union debate team has experienced record unprecedented success this season.
The local students captured a boatload of honors earlier this month at the Michigan Interscholastic Forensics Association (MIFA) state championships, what is lovingly referred to as “States.” The competition celebrates the best of the debating world, this year held at Wayne State University Friday and Saturday, Dec. 13-14.
Varsity member Eli Merren took second place and Maddy Probst finished seventh. Teammates Jamie Murray, Samantha VerStrate and Anabelle Pogodzinski were among the top 20. Rylie Steuer and Savannah Weber finished among the top 50.
Summer Morrison copped first place in the Novice Division and Carissa Yerxa was fifth.mer Morrison took 1st place in the state!
WUHS Debaters participate in legislative debate, a variation of student congress in which they compete with more than 50 students from various schools. Students gain valuable knowledge through research and writing legislation for the docket/topics of debate, they also gain real life experience as they prepare arguments while improving their speaking and listening skills.
Wayland Union Debate is a member of the West Michigan Legislative Debate League; competitions are held at different West Michigan schools each month; trophies are awarded for the top ten speakers at each league meet as well as Presiding Officer and top novice (first year debater) awards.
Wayland has dominated the league this year. Receiving Presiding Officer gavels this year were Maddy Probst and Carissa Yerxa. Individual speaking trophies were awarded to every member of the team over the course of the season. In total, the team accumulated 32 trophies; a number unheard of in the world of debate, according to coach Andrea Brown.
Debate also offers the students the ability to travel to various weekend tournaments throughout the season. This year the team attended both the Holt Invitational and Groves Tournament. Students submitted pieces of legislation to be debated, engaged in three rounds of debate on each Saturday and represented their team and community by bringing home 11 awards.
Brown said she is thrilled with both the novice and varsity teams.
“I am honored to work with such talented and motivate students,” she said. “As a team, they are unstoppable; I can’t wait to see what they do in the future.”