Debate excels at County Championship

In what may be the Debate Team's strongest season in several years, senior co-Captain Nick Stone was named the Montgomery County Debate Champion at yesterday's County Debate Finals.  Sophomores Kiran Bhat and Armin Rosen finished in the top four and the top eight, respectively.
 
The semifinals were held with roughly 118 debaters on March 3, and Stone, Bhat and Rosen were among the 16 people to advance to the finals.  "I don't think anyone remembers the last time Blair sent more than one person [to the finals] or got a debate past round 16," Stone said.  "I think the team did outstandingly this season.  Our underclassmen really picked up the slack and gave us the best showing at finals in quite a while."  Rosen added that this was a high accomplishment for Blair Debate.  "I just hope the team can stay at this high level next year and continue to dominate," he said. 
 
The topic for debate was that "as a general principle, an individual has the obligation to value the common good over his or her own interests."  First, the affirming side presents their case, followed by cross-examination by the negating side, and vice-versa.  The final cross-examination is followed by rebuttals by both sides. 
 
All three of Blair's finalists argued both sides of the question during the semifinals and were all undefeated.  In the finals, a 16-person bracket was constructed and which side competitors argued was determined by whichever side won a coin toss.  
 
Bhat hopes that this season's strong performance will establish a precedent of success.  Because the majority of the team will graduate this year, Bhat hopes to step up recruitment for next year to keep the program strong.