There is one topic, two points of view, 12 weeks, two levels, five rounds, but only one debate. This year’s debate team is doing quite well, crediting their successes to the knowledge they have gained from failures.

There are two levels of debate: novice and advanced. Both classes are instructed by Zach Butte.

“At the beginning of the week we usually start assessing our cases and discuss our answers or arguments to those cases,” Butte said. “Then the class will then work on updating their cases based on the feedback they have received.”

“We go over what our teacher thinks we struggled with at the previous tournament and go over the certain part of the debate we struggled with,” freshman Adam O’Connor said.

According to Butte each year has a different theme. This year’s theme is economic engagement with Latin American countries which is an ever changing topic.

Currently, the debate team is six weeks into the season. Six weeks is about halfway through an average debate season which goes on from Sept. to Jan. The team has seen a lot of different competition so far this year.

Butte said that the team has been having good successes on both levels. He said that they have hit bumps along the way, though and he claims that the long season may be a part of that.

“Mistakes help us grow more than our successes do,” Butte said. “We are learning something new every week.”

Debate competitions are held in various different towns around Western Kansas on Saturdays so the debate team gets to travel quite a bit.

“My favorite part about debate is getting to go out of town because you get to see places you may have not been to,” freshman Austin Gray said.

According to Butte, tournaments are long and exhausting with five rounds that are each 30 min. long. The two people who are to debate each time is based off of their winnings and losses.

“I’ve been to a couple tournaments and I’ve had a winning record at each and I had a great time with my co-debaters,” O’Connor said.

Some students that are new to debate find it to be hard to get used to at first.

“Debate is complicated, but I just went to my first debate last weekend and I think it will get easier,” sophomore Briana Aldrich said.

There are both new and more experienced debaters on the team this year. Each student has a reason for joining.

“I chose to be in debate because I thought it would be fun and I haven’t been disappointed yet,” Gray said.

And though debate may at times be challenging due to its required research, updating, lengthy season and many tournaments, both the students and teacher seem to like debate.

“I enjoy debate,” Butte said. “Every year there is a new topic and new kids. It’s great to work with experienced kids, too. There are always new challenges, and I like that.”

16bmathias@usd489.com