US Debaters Defeat National Champs

University School's Speech and Debate Team recently scored top finishes at The Laird Lewis Invitational Tournament, in Charlotte, NC., and the Beachwood Invitational, in Beachwood, OH.

At The Laird Lewis Invitational, the Public Forum debate team of Mike DiMino and Bardia Rahmani defeated two of the top three teams in the nation. The US students competed in 16 rounds, eight of which were against national champion teams.

In the quarterfinal round, Mike and Bardia beat last year's National Catholic Forensic League champions. In the semifinals, they faced the National Forensic League champions, regarded by many as the best team in the country, and won again. In the final round, they competed against the winners of the 2009 Tournament of Champions and came in second place.

Mike and Bardia also competed in the Public Forum Challenge tournament. Only 16 elite teams from around the country were accepted into this special tournament. The US team advanced to the quarterfinals and finished in sixth place.

Five of the 12 US team members who participated in the Laird Lewis Invitational won trophies: Bobby Lach won sixth place in Student Congress; Evan Meisler and Akaljot Singh were both quarterfinalists in Lincoln-Douglas Debate.

At the Beachwood Invitational, eight of the 15 team members won individual awards, including first place finishes by James Mersol in International Extemporaneous Speaking, and the team of Ben Neiswander and Chris Higley in Public Forum Debate.

Peter Paik, head coach of University School's Speech and Debate Team, said, "The students did a terrific job at both tournaments. My assistant coaches, Ms. Steeber, Ms. Dinsmore, and Mr. Foust, and I are all very proud of how hard our students have worked and how much progress they have made."