HWS Debate Ranks Top at Cornell
2 March 2020 HWS Debate Ranks Top at Cornell
The HWS Debate team opened the spring semester by competing at three tournaments held simultaneously at Cornell University: the Cornell IV, the Novice National Championships and Spanish Nationals. After five rounds of preliminary competition, HWS Debate had a team advance to both the finals for the Tournament of Love and Novice National Championships.
Sarim Karim 22 and Bart Lahiff 20 were the fifth ranked team moving into elimination rounds and won their way into the final round. After delivering persuasive arguments on United States and Iranian relations in a round against teams from McGill University, Cornell University and the University of Rochester, the pair ended the tournament as Grand Open Finalists. Additionally, Karim was ranked the sixthbest speaker and third best ESL speaker overall and Lahiff was ranked the eighth best speaker.
Sreyan Kanungo 23 and Liam Sullivan 20 made it to the final four in the Novice National Championships. The two were ranked fourth overall moving into the preliminary rounds and advanced to the finals, where they debated the importance of legacy after death. Kanungo and Sullivan tied for first place best speaker, with Kanungo winning the top title based on a tie breaker. Kanungo was also named the best ESL speaker at the tournament.
Assistant Coach Marlene Pierce and alums Amanda Ngo 19, Grace Marshall 19 and Joshua Harper 19 also participated as judges, and all were selected to adjudicate the elimination bracket rounds. Pierce says she was proud to see the alums recognized for their skills as adjudicators during the tournament, as they demonstrated the the legacy of HWS Debate.