The Wayland Debate Novice Team took first place and the Varsity Team placed third at the debate state championship series Saturday at Kendall College of Art & Design in Grand Rapids.

Schools gathered to compete in three divisions; novice, junior varsity and varsity.

The top three finalists in the novice division were Wayland Union Schools (first place) Grand Rapids City (second place), East Kentwood (third place). The JV division cleared to finals with Holland West Ottawa (first place) and Grand Rapids Northview (second place). The top three finalist sin the varsity division were East Kentwood (first), Mona Shores (second), Wayland Union Schools (third).

Debaters highlighted collaboration, innovation and design thinking in action through multiple rounds of competitive debate.

All students debated the 2015-2016 resolution/topic United States policy regarding domestic surveillance. Students debated both sides of a variety of issues, including NSA surveillance, wiretapping, police brutality, artificial intelligence, drones, standardize testing, biometrics, social movements, racism, the war on drugs and much more.

The Wayland High School debate teams are coached by Andrea Brown.

PHOTO: Novice (N) and Varsity (V) debate team pictured (from left, bottom to top): Lexi Replogle (N), Maddy Crawford(V), Sam Jones(V), Lexie Walters(V), Alex Cameron(V), Makaila Huffman(V), Jon Seymour(V), Olha Shenkarenko(N), Ray Rodriguez(N), Trenton Woodcox(V) and Dylan Thompson(V). (Photo courtesy Laurie Zywiczynski)