Ring Ring Ring! The timer can be a debater’s greatest challenge, but the Niles North Debate Team has proven they can conquer it. This year, North’s team has achieved success with numerous wins and the opportunity to compete in the Tournament of Champions (TOC) this April at Lexington Kentucky. This year, two of the varsity teams have qualified for nationals, highlighting their work and dedication.
Our senior varsity teams, Kailey Cabrera and Will Sternbec (CS) and Saad Khan and Raman Mazhankou (KM) will be competing at the TOC due to their numerous bids received.
In debate, bids mark the accomplishment that students can earn through their performance at various national tournaments. In order to attend the TOC each team needs two bids.
Cabrera and Sternbec secured their bids at both the Niles Township Invitational and the Mid America Cup. They won the Mid America Cup tournament and reached semifinals at the Niles Township Invitational.
“We were one of the first six teams to qualify for the TOC,” Sternbec said. “It was really cool, it showed how our work paid off.”
Khan and Mazhankou qualified their bids at the Mid America Cup and the Trevian Invitational, demonstrating their talent by reaching quarter finals at the Trevian Invitational and semifinals at the Mid America Cup.
“I think it’s pretty cool, I feel motivated to do more work for success at the TOC because, oh my gosh, I did not do [practice] enough, but I’m glad we qualified,” Khan said. “[This] makes me hopeful for our success in the future.”
The TOC spans four days on the campus of University of Kentucky, with a competitive environment for all participants. Students will compete against the best student debaters in the country who have earned their bids at various qualifying tournaments.
As the teams prepare to compete against these elite debaters, it’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time North’s varsity teams have attended the TOC. Cabrera is making her third appearance while Mazhankou is making his second.
Niles North debate coach Lauren Velazquez is incredibly proud of our team’s achievements so far. Velazquez has worked long hours to develop each debater’s skills and encourage them to think critically. She believes in the potential of every team member and has created a supportive atmosphere where students can take risks and learn from their experiences.
“I am definitely extremely proud,” Velazquez said. “This is the first time in my career that I’ve had the opportunity to take two teams to the TOC. I am not surprised, these teams have been working so hard and have been preparing for this goal for four years now.”
The Niles North Debate Team’s qualification for the TOC marks a significant milestone in their season. With two teams ready to face off against top competitors, the upcoming tournament promises to be a showcase for their skills. This accomplishment reflects the team’s hard work and determination in the world of debate.
The story above was written by a student in the journalism course. Interested in writing for NSN? Reach out to advisors Jason Mormolstein ([email protected]) or Jessica Ralfs ([email protected]).
