Over 15 debaters from Sage Hill participated in the Harvard Westlake debate tournament over the Jan. 13 weekend. Through this tournament, Sage students exercised their opinions in different areas of a debate; for example, research or rebuttal, to master the skills of critical thinking and communication. Debate used their voices to help create difference in society.

“Debate empowers Sage students to be better advocates for change within their communities,” Sage Hill debate captain Naomi Tran said.

Students debated in the styles of Lincoln-Douglas and World Schools during the three-day event. Freshmen Isabella Huang and Amy Jia participated in Lincoln-Douglas, a one-on-one debate style. There were over a 100 debaters participating in this category. 

In World Schools, a three-on-three debate style, Sage had three teams. Sage’s debate team one: freshman Eric Zhao, freshman Lucas Luo, junior Aava Ghorbanian and freshman Sabrina Wu; team two: junior Naomi Tran, senior Max Razmjoo, sophomore Shaurya Mittal, junior Courtney Tetteh-Martey, senior Brian Chung and team three: freshman Maya Desai, freshman Zack Hubbard and freshman Charlotte Lee. Teams two and three qualified to compete in the quarterfinals.

“There is a synthesis in debate that will always connect to the Sage curriculum and also Six Cs. The process of examining current events and other topics helps students connect to the world,” Sage Hill debate coach Rosalyn Foster said.

With Harvard-Westlake topics like the presence of the U.S. military in the Asia-Pacific and West Asia-North Africa, Sage values of communication, critical thinking and cross-cultural competency inform students on how to discuss these real world topics. Many Sage debate students have chosen to intern or work for elected officials; for example, they have offered aid by canvassing for Congress members. 

“Speech and debate helps students find their opinions and their voice that can be used going forward,” Foster said.

Sage debate students will have the opportunity to participate in several more qualifying debate tournaments this year before nationals, the last debate of the year. Now, debaters look forward to upcoming tournaments with excitement and begin to prepare for the quickly approaching national debate tournament.