The Penn Debate Team won the Team Sweepstakes at the Chesterton Debate Tournament. Penn Debate has won the last four consecutive meets that they have competed in.
Penn Debate coach Jeremy Starkweather credited the team’s success to Leadership and the Middle School Debate Program.
“My team captains have shown some of my all-time best leadership skills, and have put in countless hours preparing not just for their performances, but also for our rookies and veteran members alike,” Starkweather said.
In the last two years, Penn Debate has invested in the middle schoolers, hosting an all-PHM District Tournament.
“With the preparations happening at the middle-school level, our team is starting their careers ahead of the game compared to some of the other teams throughout the state,” Starkweather said.
Penn’s top individual awards at Chesterton:
- 1st place Public Forum: Noah Schafer and Bohdan Kolomiiets
- 1st place Lincoln Douglas: Akul Bhambani
- 2nd place Lincoln Douglas: Sarah Rooney
- 2nd place World Schools: Noah Shafer, Stanley Liew, and Danielle Esgeuerra
- 2nd place Novice Policy: Danielle Cilliberti and Addison Schlundt
- 1st place Novice Congress: Selin Biligicer
- 2nd place Novice Congress: Langston Artrip
In the Lincoln Douglas Category, both Akul Bhambani and Sarah Rooney were undefeated. Their match was very close and came down to a tiebreaker round in which Akul Bhambani persevered to the end.