Grantsville High School’s debate team went from zero to 22 this year and has quickly learned the power of voice “to express ideas and invoke change.”
During this school year, the team’s first year of existence, members have competed in 15 sanctioned tournaments, placed in the top three in region and state competitions, and won enough trophies to fill a display case.
And to top off a strong year, the team has one member who has qualified to compete at the National Speech and Debate Tournament in Dallas, Texas in June.
Recognizing a lot of hidden talent in his students, Brett Rydalch, GHS social studies teacher, launched a debate team at the school last fall.
The team grew rapidly from six students to 22 — two juniors, two sophomores, and 18 freshmen, according to Rydalch.
For freshman Gavin Serr, it was an invitation from a familiar teacher that got him to be one of the first students to sign up.
“I was sitting in the cafeteria and Mr. Rydalch came up to me and said, ‘Gavin, I’m starting a debate team and you’re going to be on it.’ And then he walked away.”
Serr knew Rydalch from Grantsville Junior High where the teacher previously taught.
Rydalch, who teaches government, law, history and geography, invited several other students to join the new debate team.
“Looking at my students, there were several with critical thinking and reasoning skills and that had the ability to articulate well,” he said.
After weeks of recruiting and practice, Rydalch had a group of six debaters ready to participate in their first debate at Cyprus High School in October.
Their first tournament started with a hitch.
The team had prepared to debate the topic of organ donations, but it turned out the tournament’s topic was civil disobedience.
“We gathered together in the hallway and did a quick exchange of ideas on the topic,” Serr said. “Things didn’t turn out too well on the first day, but we did better the second day.”
Despite the confusion on the topic, Rydalch said the first tournament was a success.
“They did come home with some first place trophies from that first tournament,” he said.
The team experienced more success at tournaments this year and more students kept showing up at team practices after school, according to Rydalch.
Speech and debate is a sanctioned school activity by the Utah High School Activities Association. The National Forensic League governs it at the national level.
Tournaments usually last two days, from Friday afternoon until Saturday afternoon. Each tournament consists of several events.
One of the events the GHS debate team competes in at tournaments is the Lincoln-Douglas debate, which is a one-on-one debate with statements, cross examinations and rebuttals. They also participate in the public forum debate, a team event with two students debating another group of two students.
Another debate event at tournaments is the congressional debate, during which a group of around 20 students form a mock legislative body and present arguments to advance bills.
Along with the debate events there are also speech events, including impromptu, extemporaneous speaking and oratory.
Impromptu and extemporaneous require quick thinking. Topics are assigned at the event and participants have little time to prepare. In oratory, participants give a ten-minute, pre-written speech on a personal inspirational topic.
Debate teaches students a lot of specific skills, according to David Christensen, one of the original six members of the GHS debate team.
“I know more about current events,” he said. “I’m smarter, more outgoing and less shy.”
Serr said debate has helped him develop the ability to discuss his point of view with friends and other people in a polite and cogent manner.
“Debate has also helped me to understand and respect other points of view,” he said.
Christensen and Serr are first runner-ups to represent their debate district, a group of around 25 high schools from Utah, in the public forum debate competition at the national tournament in June.
Serr placed first in the district oratory tournament and will be compete in the national tournament’s oratory competition.
Debate is about more than teaching students how to argue, according to Rydalch.
“Debate teaches students to think critically, be involved in today’s issues, and deeply analyze their core beliefs,” he said. “It helps each young person find a powerful voice in which they can express ideas and invoke change.”