The debate team held its first meeting of the Spring semester this past Wednesday. At the meeting, the new tournament schedule was announced along with plans for the team’s future.

Following former coach Eric Beane’s departure, many logistical hurdles emerged for the team regarding preparation, transportation to tournaments, and the organization of team meetings. 

“The tournaments we were planning to go to were all scrumped up,” Domestic Extempt captain Ava Owens said.

While students were still able to sign-up for and attend tournaments, there was no official team schedule or transportation provided, stalling many members’ competitive season. According to team secretary Chelsea Tijerino, this has left much in the air “in terms of tournaments, organization, and even quick questions.”

Assistant Principal Kristine Stephenson has taken the helm by stewarding the team’s logistics, working with other administrative staff and director of debate at Cy Lakes Ryan Hennessey to sign up students for tournaments, cover costs, and establish a new tournament schedule for the Spring semester. 

“It will definitely help out now that we have a calendar of what tournaments we are actually going to go to,” Owens said. “Especially with there being transportation.”

The class has been left with a permanent substitute teacher for the remainder of the school year, but is expected to receive a new coach next Fall. A new coach entering the fray leaves many possibilities and uncertainties for how the team will carry on.

“Since it’s going to be my senior year, I hope I can make the best of it,” Tijerino said.

There is no official team meeting schedule yet, but according to President Riley Emerson, they expect to have at least one or two meetings per month, focusing on fast-tracking preparation for competitors to attend tournaments.

Langham attended the Winston Churchill Classic tournament last week with varsity Lincoln-Douglas debater Gavin Yates placing 1st and receiving their State and National qualifications for TFA State and the Tournament of Champions.

Langham will be competing at Tomball Memorial this weekend, along with UIL Districts for policy debate. The team will also be hosting a tournament at Jersey Village in February to raise funds for next year.