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FSHS debaters to compete at Las Vegas nationals
Some people dream of making trips to exotic islands, but for a group of Fort Scott High School students, the intended destination is Las Vegas, Nev.
The Fort Scott High School debate team has worked tirelessly this year, preparing for and competing in debate tournaments, and its efforts have paid off. After competing in a tournament on Dec. 14 and 15, six FSHS students earned the privilege to compete at the national tournament in Las Vegas in June. According to FSHS Debate coach Brian Weilert, the debaters from Fort Scott crushed the competition by securing every available winning slot.
"This marks the first time in the South Kansas NFL (National Forensics League) that one school has captured all three spots and only the third time this feat has been accomplished in NFL history," he said.
Although Weilert attributes the team's success to the hard work of the students, five of the six Las Vegas-bound students said that the secret to their success can be found in Weilert's teaching methods. The sixth student was unavailable for comment.
Sterling Braun, a third-year debater, said Weilert is a great teacher. Expanding on Sterling's comment, Brad Parsons, a fourth-year debater, said that Weilert is very good at advising his students to complete certain tasks, but it is left up to the students to do the work.
Second-year debater Jacoby Zielinski echoed Parsons' comment by adding, "It is not so much what he tells us to do, but it is more his style of teaching. After he tells us what to do, he expects us to do it. He treats us like adults," he said.
Parsons added that on one occasion Fort Scott High School principal Bob Beckham entered the room and told Weilert that the classroom seemed more like an office rather than a classroom, because all of the students were busily working.
AnnRene Braun, an FSHS senior, said that not only is Weilert an awesome debate coach, but he is an amazing forensics coach, as well. She said that he has great teaching strategies and is a great teacher.
Whatever the reason, whether it be the hard work of the debaters or the excellent teaching strategies of Weilert, one thing is for certain -- FSHS debaters have become some of the most successful debaters in Southeast Kansas.
Proof of this lies in their latest competition. The local squad, made up of four two-person teams, came away from the competition with a 23-win and 4-loss record, according to Weilert. Most of the losses were not due to defeats by debaters from other schools, Weilert explained.
"With the squad having four of the remaining six undefeated teams, they were faced with the dilemma of debating each another. In fact, of the four defeats that the squad suffered, only one was at the hands of an opposing school," he said.
Sterling said that being faced by debaters from his own school made the competition tougher.
"It was tough debating against my sister AnnRene and Brad (Parsons)," he said. I would have felt bad if I would have knocked them out of the Nationals, but luckily they made it," he added.
Brittney Doherty, a three-year debater, said that she was really nervous during the last two rounds of the competition, but that her anxiety turned into excitement after she and her teammate, Kim Stone, found out that they had earned one of the three open slots.
The students all agreed that one of the most challenging parts of competing is anticipating what the other team is going to say and making preparations, which will allow them to reason successfully against the arguments presented. Also, it can be a challenge to find the right way to appeal to the judges, Sterling said.
Doherty said that it is important to watch the judge's body language. This will help indicate whether or not the judge likes the debater's approach.
Parsons added that sometimes it can become difficult to keep from getting too emotional during the debates. He said it is important to keep emotions from taking over during a debate.
Zielinski said particularly during the beginning of the school year, when the debaters must spend about 15 hours per week preparing for competitions, it can become a challenge to stay focused on the tasks at hand.
Doherty said because they really enjoy participating in debate, they push through this challenge, showing their dedication to the debating competitions.
At the national tournament this summer, the six debaters will encounter opponents from schools throughout the United States. Although they are confident about their debating skills, the students agreed that even if they do not win at the national competition, going to Las Vegas will be a good learning experience for all of them.
For Weilert witnessing the qualifying competition left him feeling proud of his students.
"It was one of those 'wow' moments," he said. "I knew each of the teams I took had the talent to qualify, but it just doesn't happen that way. I am so proud of my team. They have worked hard for months to get this opportunity. It is an honor that will stay with them for all their lives," Weilert said.