September, 2012 – Wellington Debate Team

Wellington Debate had a solid, spectacular weekend of competition at both the PBCFL Congressional hosted by Suncoast HS and the Crestian Invitational at the Pine Crest School of Boca Raton & Ft. Lauderdale, September 14-16.

At the Congressional, nine debaters earned accolades. Among the novice debaters, competing for the first time in their high school career, Rafael Blecher placed second overall in the Alachua County chamber, while Carl Kessler was third in the DeSoto County chamber. Wellington also had two fifth-place finishers – Hayleigh Hansen (Brevard County) and Shae Hammack (Jefferson County) –  and a sixth-place finisher in Jaclyn Weber (Gadsden County).

On the varsity level, Juliana Diatezua ranked third in the Dunedin senate, Juan Arango placed fifth in the Bal Harbour senate, and both Ross Lustgarten and Michael Leatherman were awarded gavels as the best presiding officers in their chambers.

In addition, 11 students received at least one judge rank during the day in recognition of their public speaking performance in their respective congressional chambers: Dante Ficarelli, Maryann Villeda, Alan Radcliff, Armando Enamorado, Harrison Paul, Jessica Sorensen, Robin Eisenson, Sinclair Sadovic, Kwadjo Walker, Greg Foster, and Olivia Davy.

At the Crestian Invitational, the Public Forum Debate team of Vinnie Gasso and Kevin Murphy went 4-2 in preliminary rounds, then won their double-octafinal, octafinal and quarterfinal rounds before being defeated in the semifinal round of competition. Gasso and Murphy finished third out of nearly 90 teams.

It was the second consecutive successful weekend of debate for the Wolverines. Wellington earned recognition at the 3rd Annual Bulldog Invitational at G. Holmes Braddock High School in Miami on Saturday, September 8.

In Lincoln Douglas Debate, Michael Leatherman went 4-1 and finished 4th overall (out of 30 LD competitors). Juan Arango placed eighth overall, while Greg Foster was 10th.

In Public Forum Debate, the team of Alexa Fortuna and Sydney Rogalsky went 4-1 and placed seventh out of 40 teams.

Blake Kessler received a trophy for his sixth-place finish in Oral Interpretation, and Kwadjo Walker was recognized for his role as Congressional Debate Chamber B presiding officer.

Wellington‘s next tournament is September 19-21 at the Yale Invitational in Connecticut. Wellington Debate is coached by Paul L. Gaba.