by Michaela Lamb |
The weekend of October 13 marked the start of the Forensics and Debate season for schools all across Missouri. This was the weekend of the Kickapoo/ Glendale tournament, in Springfield, Missouri.
LHS has been a serious contender in this tournament for years, and this year was no different, with Liberty taking first place in the Varsity division. This promising start to the season is welcomed by the Debate and Forensics teams as they gained a new coach this year, Mr. Baldwin.
Kickapoo serves as a preliminary for Nationals and students tend to use Kickapoo as a practice round to get their events in order and to see what they need to work on the rest of the season.
“I don’t necessarily always go to win,” senior Christine Conge said. “I like to treat it as a learning experience, I don’t need to bring home a trophy every time.”
Kickapoo events are limited to events most likely to be seen at National Competition later in the year.
“There are fewer events than we regularly see in a tournament, but they are the main types of events that we see at the national tournament,” Baldwin said.
“There’s Policy Debate, which is where students debate a resolution that the government aught to change. There’s Lincoln Douglas Debate, where students are debating one on one about value topics and there’s Public Forum, which is more fact based.
The Forensics Events are Humorous and Dramatic Interpretation and Duo Interpretation,” Baldwin said.
Being a preliminary for Nationals makes this tournament one of the most competitive of the season.
“You [usually] see somebody from one of these schools who makes it very deep into Nationals,” Baldwin said.
Students are eager to try out their arguments at the tournament each year.
together,” Conge said.
“I do Policy Debate, which is talking about government policies that are in place and also Foreign Extemp.
I’m really looking forward to it,” senior Chris Vlamis said.
Kickapoo is also a great team building experience.
“I think its fun, it just feels different going out of town together where you stay at the same hotel and wake up at five in the morning. “Its great to support your friends.”
