September 1, 2007: The start of the 2007 school year will be a rebirth for BEHS. After the departure of the former debate coaches at the end of 2006, BEHS is proud to welcome Pippen Christiansen as the new head debate coach and Kevin Smith as the new Assistant debate coach. As an added bonus, Mrs. Peters, the former debate coach, resumes teaching the class after a two year absence from the debate community. We all look forward to the up comming year and will add additional posts as more information becomes available.
--Posted by Kevin Smith. September 1, 2007
Please check out our linked pages to find out about the current students involved with debate, the many different debate styles, including speech events, the 2007-2008 debate competition schedule, and links to research materials related to both debate and speech events.
December 16, 2007: This weekend the BEHS debate team competed at the Auburn High School Debate Tournament. The debate team was also accompanied by former BEHS debater Hope Hampton who helped the team by judging rounds for the school. After high school, Hope went to UPS and joined te Policy Debate team there. Because of this she has becoma an invaluable resource knowing both policy and LD debate. However, due to unforseen scheduling conflicts, only three students competed at this tournament. Juniors Ryan Cully and Anthony Unferdorfer competed in the Varsity Policy Debate, while Sophomore Kendon Smith competed in Varsity Lincoln Douglas Debate. This competition was a learning experience for everyone involved. It was only the second tournament that Ryan and Anthony had competed in the Varsity deivision, and the first time Kendon had competed Varsity. Beyond that, it was only the second tournament for Mrs. Christensen, and the first tournament Kevin was able to accompany the team on this year. Despite the sharp learning curve for all the competetors, all were able to come out with average records. Kendon was able to go 2 and 4 in Varsity, and Ryan and Anthony also went 2 and 4 in Varsity.
--Posted by Kevin Smith. January 3, 2008.
January 13, 2008: BEHS rang in the new year by competing in their largest tournament of the year. The first week back from winter break brought our team to the University of Puget Sound Speech and Debate Tournament. This proved difficult for both coaches and students. The break from school affected the Lincoln Douglas Debaters worst of all. Starting January 1st, the debate topic changed from Resolved: Plea Bargaining in Exchange for Testimony is Unjust, to the new topic Resolved: It is Just for the United States to Use Military Force to Prevent the Acquisition of Nuclear Weapons by Nations that Pose a Military Threat. Given less than a week to prepare thier arguments, placed the kids at a distinct disadvantage. However, this did not deter the debaters as we took our largest LD team to any tournament this year. Junior-Varsity Debater, Kendon Smith, led the team along with three novices. Junior Wiebke Blaszcyk attended her second tournament at novice level, while Seniors Jackquline Ellerman and Veronica Lambert, made their first tournament ever, both competing in the novice division. Along with them, Varsity Policy team Ryan Cully and Anthony Unferdorfer, both Juniors, also competed at the tournament. While the overall records for te team were not outstanding, everyone walked away from the tournament with much more experience, and all had a great time. Wiebke had the best novice record from our school at 4 and 2, Kendon was able to go 2 and 4 at Junior-Varsity level, and Ryan and Anthony also went 2 and 4 in Varsity.
--Posted by Kevin Smith. January 13, 2008.
January 27, 2008: With the most recent debate tournament being at the very local Mount Vernon High School, the BEHS Debate team welcomed their new Novice Policy team into competition. Freshman Haley Ekle and Haley Sargent joined together after teaming up in elementary school, and tried their luck at High School Debate. The team came back with a 2 and 4 record overall and gained priceless experience in competition. Also in competition were Senior Veronica Lambert and Junior Ryan Cully both competing in Lincoln Douglas Debate. Veronica, competing in Junior-Varsity debate in only her first year of competiton went 4 and 2 overall finishing 3rd in record, and in the top 5 in speaker points. Ryan, normally a Policy debater, tried his hand at Lincoln Dougls for the first time this year competing at the varsity level. Ryan went 2 and 4. In addition to the debate aspect of this tournament, several teammates also competed in various speech events. Allison Cully competed in the Novice Expository Speech Competition, while Ryan Cully, and Veronica Lambert attempted varsity Impromptu Speaking.
--Posted by Kevin Smith. January 27, 2008.
February 3, 2008: The tournament at Kamiak High School this weekend yielded a new trophy winner. Our novice LD debater, Wiebke Blaszcyk won the Novice division tournament, and also claimed the title of second best speaker in the Novice division. Along with Wiebke, Kendon Smith and Veronica Lambert also competed in LD, though both were in the Junior Varsity division. Though niether trophied, both gained invaluable experience and look forward to next week at Garfield High School.
--Posted by Kevin Smith. February 3, 2008.
Please see below for short biographies of the coaches and advisors.
