EHS Debate Team Sends Five to Nationals

The debate team found success at the Southern Minnesota National Forensic League District Tournament last weekend: Five team members qualified for the Lincoln Financial Group/National Forensic League National Speech & Debate Tournament.

“I was expecting the team to do well,” said Chris McDonald, director of debate activities for EHS.

The EHS debate team received the overall team sweepstakes award at last weekend’s tournament. In order to qualify for nationals, competitors had to place either first, second or third in their debate category. Senior public forum duo Maggie Parra and David Wickard qualified as undefeated champions in their category. Juniors Sophie Callahan and Max Minsker placed third in the public forum category, also qualifying. Senior Kunal Patel qualified as well, placing second in the Lincoln-Douglas category.

The nationals qualifying tournament is held specifically for varsity competitors.  Debaters are eliminated from the competition after losing two rounds. According to McDonald, Southern Minnesota is a large competition district.

“It’s highly competitive,” said McDonald.

The team’s success is welcome, but hardly surprising. Eagan’s team is one of the largest in the country and has competed at the national tournament every year for the past decade. Parra, Wickard and Patel qualified for the MSHSL State Debate Tournament, which took place earlier this month.

The national tournament will be held this June in Indianapolis. It will consist of six preliminary rounds and a minimum of eight elimination rounds. All five of EHS’s national competitors are first time qualifiers in debate, although Patel has competed nationally in speech.

“You hope for the best,” said McDonald. “There’s no guarantees for anyone.”