PHS Debate Won the Finals!

The Pennridge Debate Team traveled to Salisbury on Wednesday, March 29, to debate against them in the finals. The team consists of Ben Swartley, Corissa McDonald, Dylan Bariexca, and Joey Saveriano, while the club advisor is Ms. Maderic. During the regular season, the team practices from 2:15 to 4:30; these practices include researching, improving others’ speeches, and mock debates. But as the team prepared for the finals, the effort increased rapidly. The topic for the finals was nuclear power, and the students practiced three times a week, staying after school until almost 6:30. This allowed the team to have their strategy ready and practiced, leading with the first speaker and second speaker to bring the facts and statistics, having the questioner ready to penetrate the other team’s argument, and the rebuttalist to connect the speeches and questions, finally convincing the audience. “We play good cop bad cop,” Bariexca says, with the speakers being the good (why their side is correct) and the questioner and rebuttalist being the bad (why the other side is wrong). Ms. Maderic helps the students improve these skills by teaching scoring protocols, how to formulate questions, and what new perspectives to look at. From then, she lets the students work together to research and improve their speeches, though McDonald, Bariexca, and Saveriano all say she still works to keep them on track during practices.

Swartley says his favorite part of Debate Club is “being able to discourse with very intelligent people,” and McDonald’s is “exploring complex topics, and leaving not knowing which side you personally believe in.” McDonald also says debate has helped her learn how to navigate difficult topics and bring emotions to a conversation convincingly. Bariexca says debate has taught him to style suits and ties, which students must wear for debate competitions. Swartley says the team works together the whole season: “Talking a lot, group chats, and inner communication.” The team is excited as this is the best season in Pennridge recently, with a record of 29-3 from the regular season. Ms. Maderic states her reason for starting the club was that Debate Club got her through high school, and when learning that PHS didn’t have one, she started the club to give that opportunity to students.

When arguing for a side they disagree with, McDonald and Bariexca said it’s more like a performance. Saveriano and McDonald also try to make the arguments similar. Saveriano also said it can sometimes be easier, as he knows what arguments the other team will make. Swartley does say something he shouldn’t take from debate to the rest of his life is being aggressive and taking such a hard stance on a topic, but that his goal as the first speaker for the finals is to be a tone setter and have a strong stance. Most of the students had found and joined the club through friends and family, though anyone interested in joining can contact Ms. Maderic at [email protected] or talk to her in the library.

Congratulations to the debate team on their finals win!