WAIMEA — On Oct. 21, Parker School’s debate team won a first-place school trophy for the most ballots earned at Oahu’s Waialua High School Debate Tournament. It was the first 2017-2018 school year competition.
Parker’s 36 debaters in grades 9 through 12 competed against 10 Oahu schools in the tournament. Parker School earned 61 winning ballots, with Punahou placing second with 51.
As the only neighbor island school and the smallest school to compete, Parker’s debate team is strong with one-quarter of the upper school students participating, two of whom are ranked number one and two in the state of Hawaii by the National Speech and Debate Association.
“I am really proud of our students’ ability to compete successfully with the top schools in Oahu. It takes a lot of dedication and skill to be successful at this high level,” said Carl Sturges, Parker School’s headmaster and debate coach.
Highlights included two varsity Parker policy teams, comprised of junior Anna Gaglione and senior Kirk Hubbard IV and juniors Malia Dills and Emily Fetsch, who went undefeated with 10 wins and zero losses. Other noteworthy wins were seniors Braedon Ingalls and Severin Wold and sophomores Hiroki Soler and Tyler Thomas, with both teams winning five out of six rounds in public forum. Sophomore Hunter Kalahiki-Arnbrister won five out of six ballots in the Championship Lincoln Douglas debate.
The Parker debate team’s next competition will be at the Punahou School debate tournament Nov. 11 on Oahu.