As you enter room A207 you’d think you’re among the most laid back students in the school. Turns out, if you pick an argument with these guys and gals, then saddle up.
Debate is full of different people with different ideas and representations.
“All of the people are very unique and interesting,” senior Natalia Rafiq said, “Everyone is very individual and different.”
There are many events that members of the team could compete in, most people can find one they like.
“There a lot of different events,” junior Alisa Hoban said, “Everyone has what they’re good and bad at.”
Debate isn’t just a class either; it’s an all around learning experience.
“Debate to me isn’t about being in class,” senior Ethan Roberts said, “It’s about waking up early on a Saturday morning to go compete in a random school with people you don’t know and trying to beat them.”
It could even help one out in life skills, not unlike most classes, says a team captain.
“You’ll be more prepared for the real world,” team captain Bre Steele said, “Debate has taught me more than most of my classes have.”
Roberts, a humble guy, is number one in the entire state of Texas as well, and the team is overall very good this year.
“Roberts is number one in state,” coach Brian Alford said, “He doesn’t really talk about it much.”
Debate can even boost scores on English essays.
“You’d be surprised at how much you learn,” Rafiq said, “My English essays have improved and spending 14-17 hours on the weekend debating is probably why.”
The events range from anything to one on one, a debate with one student arguing against another, and congress, a giant argument with tons of people in it.
“There’s one-on-one and LD,” said Hoban, “Congress is the best with a room full of people arguing.”
New teacher and debate coach, Brian Alford, is ready and excited for upcoming events.
“Yeah, I was judging debate for 10-12 years,” Alford said, “They just came up to me and offered me the job.”
A person is not just completely biased when debating either.
“You’re forced to see and understand a different point of view,” Hoban said, “It really is a good experience.”
The team is very close and fairly welcoming to recruits too.
“For people coming in and wanting to do it, the class is just getting to know what you’re getting into,” Steele said, “After 17 hours debating and hanging out with your friends on the weekend, we’re pretty close.”
Homesickness isn’t very common, since the team doesn’t go very far from Austin.
“You don’t really go too far unless you make it to nationals, we generally stay in Austin, Dallas, and places like that,” Zach Genin said, “It also is a pretty good excuse for getting out of late work and grades.”
Judging is based on how well the competitors speak s and get’s his/her point across one needs to be concise and to the point.
“Usually judging is based on speaking quality and the content you use,” Steele said, “Also how you refute other people arguments makes a pretty big difference.
After a San-Antonio qualifying tournament, all 16 Bowie competitors moved on to the semi-finals with 14 moving to the finals.
First place for congressional debate went to Ethan Roberts, and 2nd place in prose interpretation a literary debate went to Dane Ralph with five others getting 3rd place in multiple other competitions.
“We have some of the best kids in the state ranging from all different kinds of personalities,” said Steele, “We’re definitely a worthy competitor.”