Tiger debaters kick off season with victory

The Fort Scott High School debate team kicked off their new season on the right foot as they traveled to Independence for a two-division tournament Saturday.

The tournament was held in conjunction with a nation-wide tournament in which high school debaters from across the country debated whether or not the federal government should increase its development and exploration of space.

Fort Scott seniors Reed Ramsey and P.J. Self led the open (experienced) level debaters finishing the day with a perfect 5-0 record, while teammates Zoe Karczewski and Jasmine Davis finished 4-1.

At the novice level, three pairings -- Taylor Neilson and Quinton Parsons, Taylor Watkins and Courtney Rooks, and Jon Carpenter and Austin Alfaro -- all earned medals with 4-1 records.

Another group of novice debaters were in action at Gardner Edgerton where partners Rebecca Page and Natalie Carr finished with an unblemished 4-0 record.

"The squad started the season on a high note as the top-four record of 17-3 was good enough to win the overall sweepstakes title," FSHS debate coach Brian Weilert said in a news release. "Of the eight Fort Scott competitors, seven were first-time competitors at this level. All four pairings competed well and came away with victories."