Debate Club and Debate Team
HLS DEBATE CLUB
Is for students in grades 7—8 and provides academic debate instruction, practice, and an intramural tournament as preparation for joining the HLS High School Debate Team.
HLS DEBATE TEAM
Is for students in grades 9—12 and provides academic debate instruction, practice, and tournaments around the state competing against other schools. Debate benefits students by building skills in public speaking, research, listening, questioning, and arguing; yet our debaters find the friendships, teamwork, and fun equally valuable.
For more information, contact Anna Crum.
Our team motto is Delibera, Persiste, Supera—Resolve, Persist, Prevail.
2021-22
The 2021-22 HLS Debate Team attended eight tournaments, finished in the top ten in five tournaments and came in 6th place in the state. They also had one 1st place Lincoln Douglas National Qualifier.
2022 NSDA
District
Tournament
The HLS Debate Team competed at the NSDA District tournament in 2022. In Lincoln-Douglas debate, HLS had three finalists. Quarter-finalist, Anna Backus; Semi-finalist, Isabella Gutwein, and the 1st Place Hoosier Heartland District National Qualifier, Ava Concannon.
2020-21
The 2020-21 HLS Debate Team attended nine on-line tournaments (during a pandemic), finished in the top ten in seven tournaments and came in 11th place in the state. They also had a 2nd Place Public Forum National Qualifier.
2021 Nationals
One Public Forum Team, Bella & Ava Concannon, qualified to nationals at the Hoosier Heartland District Tournament. This sister duo was also awarded by the NSDA “Academic All American” Read more about this prestigious award HERE.
2019-20
The 2019-20 HLS Debate Team attended nine tournaments, finished in the top ten in seven tournaments and came in 6th place in the state.
2018-19
The 2018-19 HLS Debate Team attended six tournaments, finished in the top ten in five tournaments and one team progressed to the octa-finals round. This was the first year the team attended the National Qualifying District tournament. The team also joined the NSDA Honor Society during this year.
2017-18
The 2017-18 HLS Debate Team attended six tournaments, finished in the top ten in six tournaments. This was the first year the team went to the State Debate tournament and they broke to octa-finals.
2016-17
The 2016-17 HLS Debate Team attended two tournaments and placed 5th at one tournament.