MOUNT VERNON — Danville High School debaters dominated the 2010 Knox County Debate Contest held Nov. 18, at the First Presbyterian Church. Teams from Centerburg, Clear Fork, Danville and Mount Vernon high schools argued for and against the resolution: The United States federal government should substantially reduce its military presence in Afghanistan.
Danville’s affirmative team of Morgan Sinnett and Anna Lamb were the champion debaters. In the debate’s final round, Lamb argued the problems in Afghanistan require nonmilitary solutions, and Sinnett declared it is vital to ask what the Afghan people want.
The contest runners-up were Danville’s Nick Huffman and Brendan Urban. In the final round, Urban emphasized the Afghan people need military protection from the Taliban, and Huffman asserted reducing the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan would jeopardize the progress that had already been made in the country.
The trio of students from Kenyon College who judged the final round said the scores were very close, and commented that all of the participants in all of the rounds did a good job.
Those participants were Sarah Bertschy, Austin Gallogly, Trent Grohe, Heather Harp, Nick Huffman, Christina Humbleton, Anna Lamb, Lindsay Mapes, Nicole Moore, Lauren O’Rourke, Meredith Priess, Morgan Sinnett, Aubrey Smith, Lindsey Studebaker, Gary Stuff and Brendan Urban.
Timekeepers included Bailee Burke, Emmy Lamb, Rachel McKinley and Rochelle Salazar.
The teams are coached by Beth Durbin, DHS; Brian Kinnard, CFHS; Jeff Gottke, MVHS; and Megan Stewart, CHS.
The annual Knox County Debate Contest is sponsored by the Knox County Educational Service Center and coordinated by John Jurkowitz.
