Dim lights hang over an ornately set dining room with the aroma of juicy steak and cake floating across the room as people hug each other and jump around in excitement; the new debate captains and officers have just been announced. Later, the former officers gave their farewell speeches, and the atmosphere of anticipation and mourning mixed into an intoxicating fog of melancholy and hope. 

This past Friday, the debate team held their annual banquet at Marvino’s Italian Steakhouse where they celebrated the past season and announced the new leadership positions for the upcoming year. On that night, the team honored their graduating seniors and the achievements of the team’s members. 

“Most people had a good time,” speech and debate coach Mr. Beane said. “I had a good time. I thought that we recognized a lot of great accomplishments throughout the night.” 

Winning 50% of the vote, Jocelyn Conney became the new president of the debate team and was made team captain of all speech events. Additionally, winning 45% of the vote, Shaunnah Kandoh became the new vice president along with being made team captain of Lincoln-Douglass. 

“Our new president Jocelyn Conney, has been with the team for several years now, and she along with our incoming vice president Shaunnah Kandoh have done almost every different debate event that we offer along with speech events too, so they’re very well-rounded,” Mr. Beane said. “I have nothing but faith in their ability to lead the team.”

Running uncontested, Ava Owens became the team’s secretary, who was also recognized for her accomplishments in Lincoln-Douglas debate. 

“I feel like I’ll have great contributions to debate,” Ava said. “I can help it grow.” 

Also running uncontested, Samantha Revuelta became the team’s historian. Samantha has dabbled in many different events with a primary focus on speech.

“It’s gonna be a new experience,” Samantha said. “I feel like I can definitely help first-year debaters in learning about the different events and what events they’d like to do based on their current skills and likes.”

The former president, Spencer Benton, feels good about the new leadership but has concerns about the precarity of leadership. 

“I’m an optimist, so I always am hopeful. I think this new group of officers is young, but has some good ideas and goals for the team next year,” Spencer said. “The only part that does worry me, however, is the level of dedication they will put. It takes a strong group of leaders on the team to stay committed to be successful.” 

While the team greets new leaders and debaters, they also say goodbye to their graduating seniors.

“When you’re a coach of something, whether it be debate or sports or whatever, you spend a lot of time with students on the weekends and after school practicing a lot more than other teachers generally do, and so it makes saying goodbye very difficult,” Beane said. “Seeing students grow from their first day in 9th grade to their last tournament in 12th grade is a massive change, and it’s always really difficult for me. It never gets easier, and this year is especially difficult with our president Spencer Benton leaving, but he has a full tuition waiver at Baylor for debate, so I couldn’t be more proud of him. It never gets easier and it’s bittersweet to see students leave, but I also know they’re gonna go out to college or wherever they may go and leave their mark.”

Spencer shared many meaningful words at the Banquet while reflecting over the relationships he built, memories he made and skills he earned.

“Joining debate shaped a lot of my high school experience,” Spencer said. “It helped me become smarter and it allowed me to focus and do as well as I did in school.” 

In the past year, the team saw some road bumps but was overall successful. 

“I thought that this would be a major building year, where we wouldn’t be very successful at all, but we’ve surpassed that by every imaginable marker,” Beane said. “We got a bunch of people qualified to UIL and TFA state, got some National Individual Event Tournament Champion [qualifications], bids, all kinds of good stuff.”

Looking forward, the team is on sight to see further improvement next year as well. 

“I think we have some good leadership coming up, and I think that with our very very strong policy debate team we’ll do exceptionally well next year,” Beane said.

As Mr. McKinley, the assistant director of speech and debate, humorously reflected in his speech and Mr. Beane corroborated more seriously, the debate team also faces some budgetary concerns. 

“I am certain our funding at the level it’s currently at will be cut significantly,” Beane said. “Unfortunately, that means that prices for things are going to increase. The price for dues will go up, out-of-state trips will unfortunately go up.”

Additionally, the school is looking to face its largest debate tournament in history.

“The other anxiety-producing thing would be prepping for the upcoming tournament as it will be the biggest in Langham Creek history, and Langham Creek High School has hosted the state championship before at TFA,” Beane said. “Our tournament will be bigger this upcoming year as we’ve expanded it to six rounds, and many different people from across different states will be there.”

Despite these looming anxieties, the future is looking bright for the team overall.

“I thought this year was super successful, and I know for the next couple years at least, we’ll carry that on, and I anticipate great success next year too,” Beane said.

While the night wraps up, Mr. Beane gives a final speech commemorating the year and celebrating the graduating members and upcoming leaders. People finish their desserts and get their final photos and conversations together for one last time as a group, suspended between the future and the past for just a single night.