The Woodrow Wilson High School Debate Team after winning the Dallas Urban Debate Alliance City Championship. Pictured, from left, are Ahnry Avina, Salvador Chacon, Gaberiel Jankovsky, Alexander Van Geenen, Elizabeth Collins, Lucas Rogers and coach Robert Hearne.
We advise not getting into a deliberation with members of Woodrow Wilson High School’s Debate Team — you’ll probably lose. But maybe do it anyway, it would be good practice for the young orators who are once again heading to the national championship to put their persuasive powers to the test.
The 2016 National Association for Urban Debate Leagues National Championships will pit the very best high school debate teams in the country against each other during a robust competition to be held in San Francisco April 14 to 17. In the 2015 event, held at USC in Los Angeles, Woodrow’s team took third place overall.
To get to nationals, the team first had to earn their spot as the Dallas Urban Debate Alliance City champions by beating most every major debate team in the Dallas ISD. A total of 60 students and 12 teams competed last weekend at SMU. As each team was eliminated, it came down to the highest ranked teams from each school. Woodrow’s Gabriel Jankovsky and Alexander Van Geenen bested Michael Vera and Martin Anguiano of Judge Barefoot Sanders Magnet Center for Public Service: Government, Law and Law Enforcement, with a 4-1 decision. The Woodrow champs were assisted by teammates Lucas Rogers, Elizabeth Collins, Salvador Chacon, and Ahnry Avina and coach Robert Hearne.
