Victory For BHS Middle School Debate Team

Eight middle school teams and six high school teams from across the island recently competed in the 23rd Annual Bermuda National Debate competition at Saltus Grammar School.

Four teams represented Bermuda High School, with two teams competing at the middle school level and two teams competing at the high school level.

The middle school motion for debate was “This House would ban the sale of sweetened beverages larger than sixteen ounces”, and the high school motion was “This House would make vaccinations mandatory”.

Coached by Harvey Cornish and representing BHS at the high school level were IB students Megan Bower, Connie Campbell, and Lara Hetzel on team A; and IB students Brittney Ferrera, Wendy Tuxworth, and Rachel Daly on team B.

Team A won 1 out of the 3 rounds and team B won 2 out of the 3 rounds. While neither team advanced to the final, Lara Hetzel placed 1st overall in the Outstanding speaker category and Megan Bower placed 3rd.

After three rounds of debate, including an impromptu round where students only had one hour in isolation to prepare speeches for a motion they had never seen before, both BHS middle school teams emerged as finalists for the championship round.

BHS A team, made up of Year 9 students Hailey Quig, Megan Sutcliffe, and Ashleigh Tomkins achieved unanimous wins against T.N. Tatem, Mount Saint Agnes B team, and Saltus. Year 9 student Lillian Griffiths, Year 8 student Brianna Correia, and Year 7 student Charlotte Frumkin achieved success as the BHS B team winning their rounds against Warwick teams A and B as well as Mount Saint Agnes team A.

It was an all BHS middle school final as the two teams faced off to argue the prepared motion. BHS A argued for the motion, while BHS B argued against, and while both teams presented a “spirited” and “lively” debate, there could be only one winner. In a unanimous decision, the judges declared the BHS A team the victors.

Hailey Quig, Megan Sutcliffe and Ashleigh Tomkins reclaimed the Middle School Debate Champions title and coach Melissa Brough received the Middle School Coach’s award. In the Outstanding Speakers Category, Hailey Quig placed 3rd overall, Lillian Griffiths placed 2nd overall, and Megan Sutcliffe placed 1st overall for the second year in a row.

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