LHS debate team earns national honor

By Andy Brown
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Updated: October 9, 2015

The Louisburg High School debate team has had its fair share of success over the last several years and the Wildcats have seen their numbers grow because of it.

Thanks to all that success, Louisburg recently saw a big honor come its way.

The Louisburg debate and forensics team was just recognized by the National Speech and Debate Association for reaching a milestone of 200 degrees. Degrees are earned by participation and success at competition of team members from each school.

With more than 8,100 membership schools throughout the country, the points earned by the Wildcats puts them in the top 7.5 percent, head coach Brian Weilert said.

The award was one of many positives to come out of the debate program in the last week as the Wildcats found some success at two tournaments last weekend. Louisburg traveled to Blue Valley West and Olathe Northwest for competition and put together some strong showings.

Louisburg’s top performance came thanks to Reilly Alexander and Lilly Mick. The Wildcat duo posted an undefeated record to win the novice division at Blue Valley West.

“Lilly and I were both very proud to be able to say we went undefeated,” Alexander said. “We were overjoyed and very proud.

“The toughest thing during a debate tournament is probably trying your best to stay positive even when you’ve just lost the round you got out of. Also after the first two rounds you get power matched, which means you go against better teams.”

Jacinda Collins and Bryce Kuhlman also placed for Louisburg during the Blue Valley West tournament. Kuhlman bumped up to the junior varsity division from novice and he, and Collins, finished fifth overall.

At the Olathe Northwest tournament, Mikayla Quinn and Isabelle Holtzen put together a 4-1 record in the junior varsity division, which put them into the out-rounds as the No. 2 seed. They were later upset by the No. 7 seed, but still went on to finish in fourth place.

In a team full of young debaters, the Wildcats are excited for what the rest of the season has in store.

“Overall I think this year’s debate team will do very well and go to state,” Alexander said. “We have a lot of freshmen that are eager to get better and excel, which makes the team fresh with new ideas.”