The MHS debate and forensics teams hosted the Third Annual Doug Tschetter Novice Championship on Saturday, January 11. The event honors the late Tschetter,... Pew Takes Fifth at Third Annual Doug Tschetter Novice Championship

The MHS debate and forensics teams hosted the Third Annual Doug Tschetter Novice Championship on Saturday, January 11. The event honors the late Tschetter, a longtime teacher and debate coach who held a special place in his heart for novice debaters. Tschetter was a rare winner of eight Diamond Awards and considered one of the top debate coaches in the nation.

Kathy Tyler, Milbank’s head coach said, “Novice debaters have their regular season during first semester debate class, but very few get a chance to experience a true championship tournament.”  Competition at the event included  21 teams for a total of 42 novice Public Forum students and ten novice Lincoln-Douglas debaters from Sioux Falls Jefferson, Sioux Falls Washington, Beresford, Aberdeen, Brookings, Harrisburg, and Milbank. In addition, the school was abuzz with on and off-topic debates, conversations, and memories of debate careers and Mr. Tschetter 

Sioux Falls Jefferson, Aberdeen Central, and Harrisburg dominated the Public Forum category. They captured the top-seven places. Sioux Falls Washington took home the first and second-place trophies in Lincoln-Douglas. Jefferson placed third.  Aberdeen took fourth, and Tate Pew of Milbank placed fifth. Miriam Del Angel-Chavez and Addison Brown competed in the Public Forum event.

“Championship tournaments need a huge judge pool to ensure there are three judges in each round,” Tyler said, “We, you, accomplished that.” In addition to former debaters from all over the state, over fifty people from the local community volunteered to judge debate rounds. Varsity debaters from participating schools also joined the judge pool. John Trevett and Linda Fawcett helped feed the judges and coaches. Parents contributed bars, soups, cookies, veggies, and rolls. 

What’s next? Before the National Qualifier and the State debate tournaments, the Bulldogs  travel to Sioux Falls, Harrisburg, Watertown, and Brookings.

Staff

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