Students of the Cherokee High School debate team have proven they are worthy competitors.
The debate team has been a club since the late 1980s, according to head coach Dave Ellis, who has been the coach for the past six years.
Debate teams in the area are split into two divisions: Lincoln and Douglas.
Currently, Cherokee leads the Douglas division with a season record of 7–1, while Eastern High School leads the Lincoln division 8–0.
According to Ellis, there are 25 students on the team, with six competing at the varsity level.
The season begins in mid-December and runs through the end of February.
Each team follows a national structure encompassing how the debate is run and the topic.
According to the South Jersey Debate League, a debate is a contest between two sides with opposing views. A two-person affirmative team presents a unique and original plan that supports a resolution. A two-person negative team argues the affirmative plan will not work. The negative team does not propose a counter plan.
This year’s topic asks if, “the federal government should substantially increase its transportation infrastructure in the U.S.”
The team will meet twice a week in school leading up to competition, and outside the confines of the school setting.
“It’s the kind of thing where it requires a lot of effort outside of school and outside of my guidance,” said Ellis. “A lot of research on their own. The students bounce ideas off one another and off of me.”
After an hour of competition, judges choose the winner.
The judges will also rate each speaker for analysis, delivery, and decorum. Logical, emotional, trustworthy, and eloquent speech and language are expected.
Senior and debate team captain Allison Ebner was wary of joining the debate team at first. After taking a debate class, she was convinced to join the team.
“My favorite is the cross examination part of the debate,” said Ebner. “You basically get to drill the other debaters with questions. I like that the best because it’s a cool intellectual battle for academics.”
Members of the debate team have helped students think about a future in college and what career path they may decide on.
“A lot of the students are looking at this as an opportunity for school,” said Ellis.
He said former debate team members have gone on to medical school, gone on as political science majors and have attended a variety of universities throughout the country.
“It’s the challenge of thinking on your feet and responding with composure to the challenge,” said Ellis. “All the students into it really enjoy the challenge.”
Ebner is interested in pursuing a career dealing with international relations.
“Two years ago we dealt with the military and moving out the troops,” she said. “I think building a plan to help people around the world is important and helped push me toward international relations.”
So far, she has been accepted to Rutgers University-New Brunswick and Camden and the University of Virginia. She is waiting for replies from American University, Princeton University, McGill University in Montreal and the University of Pennsylvania.
The debate team will take on Seneca High School on Feb. 6, Moorestown on Feb. 13, and Shawnee on Feb. 20.
The championship will be held on Feb. 27 at Lenape High School, located at 235 Hartford Rd. in Medford.
