CHS Debate Team Wins 24th Consecutive Title
Chesterton High School has long upheld its tradition of raising strong debaters. Since the formation of the debate team in 1971, Chesterton High School has sent over 150 qualified students to compete at the National Tournament and has won the tournament as a whole for four consecutive years, from 1989 to 1993. Since then, the school has celebrated various win’s, those of which range from nationally recognized first-place championships to smaller individual titles.
Chesterton High School has long upheld its tradition of raising strong debaters. Since the formation of the debate team in 1971, Chesterton High School has sent over 150 qualified students to compete at the National Tournament and has won the tournament as a whole for four consecutive years, from 1989 to 1993. Since then, the school has celebrated various win’s, those of which range from nationally recognized first-place championships to smaller individual titles.
Coaches Shane Smith, Christopher Lowery and Josh Coots all agree that while Chesterton High School’s debate team has always been successful, this season was their best yet. Senior Abby Burke won back-to-back state championships in Lincoln-Douglas debate. Burke made it to the final round alongside fellow student, friend, and teammate Eric Zhong, who was a Lincoln-Douglas semifinalist last year.
“We are honored that these two competitors have pushed each other to get better every day in practice and at tournaments, and we are really excited that both are representing the team at Nationals this summer,” said Lowery.
The Lincoln-Douglas event is co-coached by Shane Smith and Josh Coots. The topic in the final round was ‘just governments ought to force employers to pay a living wage.’ Burke represented the negative position and won on a 3 - 2 decision, giving her second consecutive state championship. This feat has only been accomplished once before in the entire IHSFA’s history.
“It was incredible how Abby Burke tackled the defense of her title all year long, it was more than any coach could have ever asked for,” Coach Shane Smith said.
Abby is also the recipient of the IHSFA Brittain Award Winner for Mental Attitude.
“I’ve never felt so proud of myself, or my coaches and teammates,” Burke says.
Other notable accomplishments include eleventh graders Tim Vincent and Joel Peterson, who won Policy Debate, and senior JP Pritchard who won Outstanding Presiding Officer Award in Congressional Debate.
“Debate teaches students invaluable skills that they can utilize in virtually any career,” Coach Josh Coots explains. Also, since we do not cut anyone from the team, we have a literal cross-section of the student-body represented with varying life goals and career paths. Debate teaches both public speaking and analytical thinking skills that teachers always try to get their students to learn. Debate also teaches students to view issues from multiple angles, leading them to be great negotiators and collaborators rather than polarized partisans. We put that into practice and give the students a real-life application for their skills. Debaters go on to be leaders in just about every field imaginable with a superior ability to communicate and interact with poise.”
The success of Chesterton is due, in large part, to the culture of the program as it has developed over the years. Students come into the program knowing that it has been successful, which both inspires them to be a contributing part of that and gives them confidence to know that they can do it.
“My favorite part about being a debate coach is working with students that are actively engaged and excited about what they are doing. Young people, when motivated by a constructive interest, are a joy to work with and remind me of why I became a teacher in the first place,” Coots says.
“It is impressive to see what these young people can do and to see the change that can take place in the space of a single year in maturity, confidence, and the ability to handle complex ideas.”
Alley Oop for Autism at CHS
Chesterton High School’s Thursday night home basketball game against the Portage Indians featured an event never before done at CHS.
Alley Oop for Autism is an autism advocacy group located in Crown Point, Indiana, whose purpose is to promote a greater awareness for children and adults with autism. This organization was the focal point at Thursday night’s halftime show, where a group of Lady Trojan’s and some of CHS’s autistic and special needs students faced each other in a basketball scrimmage. Set to play are students Derrick Sain, Matt Boatright, Trent Johnson, Shannon Kelley, Sequoia Kegley, Zack Williams, Tyler Rivera, Tristan Heckman, Noah Vallengeon, Elena Valerio, Ryan Clendenen, Claire Brendza, and Sydney Rushing, with Lauren Kusbel and Jessica Tarnowski as coaches.
The event was put together by senior and fellow Lady Trojan Natalie Petro, who was inspired to organize the game based on her participation with MAAP -- Making Advancements for the Autistic Population -- in which Petro was recently named Director of Youth Services. Petro was influenced to volunteer after spending her youth watching her grandmother take care of her autistic aunt.
“The level of dedication she puts into helping my aunt and anyone who needs it, without any thought of herself, is amazing,” Petro says. “MAAP was the perfect outlet because I can be directly involved and give back to the community.”
With a turnout as grand as Thursday night’s scrimmage, Petro hopes to continue her work with MAAP inside the school and in the community.
“As time passed, I met more and more people impacted by autism and I realized how common it is,” Natalie adds. “I’ve also come to realize just how blessed a life I have. I want to help others achieve something similar.”