The 2011-2012 Regional Speech and Debate Season ended on March 3 as competitive debaters finished their year in the State Qualifier Competition. The Orange County Debate State Qualifier Tournament took place on March 2 and 3at Oxford Academy. From the qualifier tournament, the top Debate Teams received the privilege to compete at the State Level Debate Tournament. The qualifier tournament consisted of Policy, Parliamentary Debate, and Lincoln-Douglas debate. From these categories, Cypress High School’s Policy team took the District Championship title and a ticket to the State Tournament in the Policy Debate category.
The District Champions, Diane Kim, a senior, and Justin Park, a junior, are overjoyed by their championship title and the trophy.
“It is our first time getting first place at the State Qualifier! We worked very hard for the past three years to get here and I am very proud of our work,” said Kim. Although Kim and Park have received several first place trophies from past debate tournaments, they have never been the district champions before.
The Policy Debate topic debated at the State Qualifiers regarded the U.S. Space Program. Kim and Park stated that the tournament was more challenging than the others.
“Rounds were a little bit difficult since the judges were not used to policy debate and my opponents ran unique arguments,” said Park. Despite the challenges they faced, Kim and Park were able to win and become the district champions.
Kim and Park have been debating in Policy Debate for the last three years and stated that the enjoyment of Debate and their strong partnership allowed them to stay as a team. Policy Debate requires the competitors to research in depth.
“I like that I learn a lot about global issues. I also like the feeling of winning after rounds; it pays off all my hard work,” said Park. Kim and Park also find their comfort and trust in each other to be huge factors that keep them together as partners. “I like that we can have a good time together outside of debate rounds,” said Park.
“I am very amazed and proud that they worked so hard and became the district champions!” said Edgar Jaramillo, a parliamentary debater. As Jaramillo said Park and Kim worked on the topic of “U.S. Space Program” for an entire year, elaborating and researching continuously. As a reward, Kim and Park will qualify to attend the State Debate Tournament in San Francisco.
