Grabow and Monroy Place Second at Brookings Debate Tournament

MHS novice debaters have compiled winning records after opening their 2021-22 season last week. 
Brookings held the first novice tournament of the season on Tuesday, November 2. The team of Gregory Grabow and Camila Camila Monroy went 3-0 and placed second out of 36 teams. The teams of Qualon Grant and Shane Spiering and Max Schuelke and Rylen Frerichs each won two of the three rounds. 

The regular season opened Saturday, November 6, at the Aberdeen Ringneck Tournament. Milbank’s two JV debaters, Brooke Schwagel and Paulina Burke, won two and lost three of their rounds. Coach Kathy said, “It was Paulina’s first debate ever, and she and Brooke made me proud!”
The South Dakota debate conferences added a junior varsity division to tournaments this year. Prior to the decision, second year debaters were pitted against senior debaters. Now, those debaters are given the opportunity to compete against their equals.

The Public Forum topic this year is:  Resolved: Increased United States federal regulation of cryptocurrency transactions and/or assets will produce more benefits than harms.

All Sioux Falls high schools, Mitchell, Watertown, Brookings, Harrisburg, Lennox, and Yankton host weekend tournaments throughout the months of November, December, January, and February. The novice season ends in January with a state tournament designed for them. Novices then automatically advance to junior varsity.

In addition to the above debaters, Milbank will be represented by two Lincoln-Douglas debaters — Max Lightfield and Ivy Lewno.  Lydia Street will participate in Student Congress.

Tyler said, “I’m excited about the debate season. There are eight new debaters, and they are working hard and working together. That’s what counts. They will do well.” 

Top photo: Novice team back row- Qualon Grant, Shane Spiering, Gregory Grabow, Camila Monroy Front row-  Rylen Frerichs, Max Schuelke

Second photo: Brooke Schwagel, Paulina Burke