What Makes a Great Tournament?

NEW YORK, N.Y. — “Topic for Debate” features pertinent discussions of current debate practice and theory.

Today’s question is “administrative,” but far-reaching. On The View from Tab, Jim Menick, Chris Palmer, Mike Bietz, and I have begun a discussion about “guidelines” for TOC-qualifying tournaments at different levels. As a board member of the NDCA, I recently participated in a vote for the organization’s Tournament Host of the Year Award.

What qualities do you think make for a great tournament? What do you expect from local and regional tournaments as opposed to national tournaments?

Hiyawan Solomon Wins Cypress

CYPRESS, Calif. — Belatedly, we report the results of the twenty-ninth annual Cypress College Invitational, which took place in December. Immaculate Heart High School’s Hiyawan Solomon defeated Troy High School’s Manish Patel in the final round on a 3- 0 decision to take the title. (Hiyawan is pictured with teammates.) Read more →

Loyola Blakefield Closes Out BCFL Championships

BALTIMORE, Md. — The Baltimore Catholic Forensic League Championship is the championship event for the areas of Maryland not encompassed by the Washington-Arlington Catholic Forensic League. This year, Loyola Blakefield High School’s Connor Acle and Tom Cameron closed out the final round of the BCFL and were declared co-champions. Read more →

Zack Struver Wins Rippon Scholarship

NEW YORK, N.Y. — Hendrick Hudson High School’s Zack Struver is the recipient of this year’s Rev. Gerald R. Rippon, S.J. Scholarship. The New York City Catholic Forensic League — which includes public, private, and parochical high schools — awards this $1,000 scholarship to a graduating senior annually. Read more →

Ben Sprung-Keyser, Marshall Thompson Win Walt Whitman Round Robin

BETHESDA, Md. — Harvard-Westlake School’s Ben Sprung-Keyser and Walt Whitman High School’s Marshall Thompson were declared co-champions of the first-ever Walt Whitman Round Robin. The tournament, which utilized a challenge format, concluded with a demonstration debate before a panel of five distinguished guests: U.S. District Court Judge Leonie Brinkema, Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler, U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein, U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Jane R. Roth, and Congressman Chris Van Hollen. Read more →