Wellington Debate Team sets Multiple Records
Wellington Debate set multiple team records at the 2014 Palm Beach Catholic Forensic League “Grand Finals” national championship qualifier tournament Saturday, March 29, at William T. Dwyer High School.
A dozen Wolverines will invade the Windy City over Memorial Day Weekend to compete at this year’s NCFL national championship – the most ever to represent Wellington at CatNats.
In addition, Wellington took first place overall in three events at Grand Finals – Congressional Debate, Lincoln Douglas Debate, and Public Forum Debate. It was the most first-place finishes Wellington has achieved at the national qualifier.
In Congressional Debate, junior Michael Leatherman earned the top spot among nearly 50 students, 19 of whom advanced to the final round. Three other Wellington debaters – junior Kwadjo Walker, sophomore Victor Sanchez, and freshman Pallavi Taneja – also advanced to the finals of Congressional Debate.
In Lincoln Douglas Debate, senior Yourui Ruan went 5-0 in taking first place. And in Public Forum Debate, the team of seniors Vinnie Gasso & Caitlyn Konopka also went 5-0 in taking top honors.
In PFD, seniors Greg Foster & Kevin Murphy, and freshmen Gillian Kruisland & Caramen McDaniel, also qualified.
Wellington also has a pair of Duo Interpretation competitive acting teams qualify for Chicago: senior Dylan Race & sophomore Savannah Race (performing “Employees Must Wash Hands … Before Murder” by Don Zolidis), and sophomores Antoinette Gray & Cameron Harker (performing Neil Simon’s “Barefoot in the Park”).
Three additional National Forensic League honor degrees were earned by Wellington. Dylan Race surpassed 500 points (Degree of Special Distinction), Olivia Davy passed the 250-point level (Degree of Distinction), and Pallavi Taneja earned her Degree of Honor by passing hte 75-point mark. Wellington now has 266 total degrees, most in the Florida Oceanfront NFL District.
Wellington Debate is coached by Paul L. Gaba.