ACHS Debate Duo Qualifies for National Tournament

Via Ankeny Community School District

ANKENY, Iowa (February 23, 2015) - For the second straight year, the Ankeny Centennial Debate program will send a Public Forum Debate team to the National Speech and Debate Tournament this summer. The team of Kelly Behrens and Brea Young competed for one of three top spots at the Iowa West District National Qualifying Tournament at Okoboji High School in Milford, Iowa on February 13-14.

“This two day tournament offered tough competition for these young ladies, who spent a pivotal amount of time preparing and practicing their cases prior to the competition,” said Eric Klingensmith, head debate coach. “The on-going process for debate is one of developing speaking and research skills, which comprises much of this duo’s free time.”

For the qualifying tournament, Behrens and Young had to debate the topic, “balancing economic globalization benefits of worldwide poverty reduction.” The ladies had to develop a case to affirm and a case to negate this argument. In their six debates during the weekend, each team does not know which side of the case they will debate until they enter the round and flip a coin to determine who speaks first and which side they will argue.

Behrens and Young earned a record of 5-1 at the tournament, qualifying them for a spot at the National Speech and Debate Tournament June 14-19 in Dallas, Texas.

Photo Credit: Ankeny School Fusion

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