State championship titles are big coups for high school teams, whether athletic, academic or arts related. Fayette County high schools have won a number of state titles over the years in a variety of disciplines with Starr’s Mill High School adding yet another following the debate team’s performance at the 2018 Georgia Forensics Coaches Association Varsity Speech and Debate Championship.
The two-person team of Tyler Holt and Madi Hynson from Starr’s Mill High won the state championship in Public Forum Debate. In this event, students speak persuasively to convince a community member of a controversial topic. Debate topics change monthly, and are typically focused on current world events.
Starr’s Mill won one of the 11 state championship titles that were awarded at the competition, but that was not the school’s only victory. A first place award was brought home by Cole Wittbrodt in the Lincoln Douglas Debate. In this event, students debate morality and values rather than policy action. Debate resolutions change every month.
Rounding out the awards won by Starr’s Mill was Michael King, placing fourth in Original Oratory and fifth in Impromptu Speaking. Original Oratory is a 10-minute speech which is both informative and persuasive and focuses on an area of social concern. Impromptu Speaking is a seven-minute informative speech. Topics from the previous six months news are drawn and the contestant has 30 minutes to prepare a speech using references from print news sources that he or she has brought to the preparation room.
McIntosh High School also had a strong showing with debater Samuel Ellis taking first place in the individual competition of Public Forum Debate. Additionally, the two-person team of Afra Abdul and Samuel Ellis of McIntosh High were octo-finalists in Public Forum Debate.
Schools earn a place in the state debate championship by participating in qualifying tournaments throughout the year, and finishing in the top four in at least one tournament. There were 36 schools competing in this year’s state debate championship, including powerhouses Henry W. Grady, Columbus and Marist high schools.
The tournament provides students an opportunity to get to know other debaters from around the state, and to develop their speaking, research, writing, and analytical thinking skills.
