The debate season ended for Wayland High School Friday and Saturday at the state championship series at Kendal College of Art & Design in Grand Rapids.

In the world of policy debate, all of Wayland’s team members ended their season ranked in the top ten. Lexie Walters took first place speaker at the varsity level, Jon Seymour was ranked sixth, Ray Rodriguez placed seventh, Makaila Huffman took eighth and Khylea Wells placed ninth. In the novice division, Samantha Rahm placed fourth and partner Andrea Ivers fifth.

Ivers and Rahm, took third in the tournament last weekend. In varsity, Walters and Seymour captured fifth place, the team of Huffman, Rodriguez and Wells finished as semi-finalists.

Schools gathered to compete in three divisions — novice, junior varsity and varsity. All students debated the 2016-2017 resolution/topic United States policy diplomatic and economic engagement with China. At the state championship series, debaters highlighted collaboration, innovation and design thinking in action through multiple rounds of competitive debate.

Besides Wayland’s top honors, each student in attendance was awarded with a participation award for competing at such a high level of debate. Coach Andrea Brown said she was extremely proud of both of her teams and is looking forward to next year’s season.

PHOTO: (From left) Jon Seymour (varsity, 12), Samantha Rahm (novice, 9), Khylea Wells (varsity, 10), Ray Rodriguez (varsity, 12), Makaila Huffman (varsity captain, 11), Lexie Walters (varsity captain, 12) and Andrea Ivers (Novice, 10). (Photo courtesy of Laurie Zywiczynski)