From left: Gelber Argueta, Megan Geidel, Jessica Horvath, and Linda Voigt
Four Ottumwa High School students have qualified for the National Debate Tournament in Dallas, Texas. The tournament, which will be held from June 14 - 19, will feature competitors from around the country. Juniors Linda Voigt, Jessica Horvath, and Gelber Argueta, as well as freshman Megan Geidel, qualified in World Schools Debate, a recent event which features teams of five debaters competing against each other. Their team will be rounded out by a Bettendorf High School student who also qualified.
“This is a gracious honor. It’s nice to know that all of hard work for the last three years has paid off,” said Voigt.
“The debate team worked really hard and this honor really goes to everyone involved,” echoed Horvath.
This is the first time since 2009 that debaters from Ottumwa High School have qualified for the National Tournament, when two debaters qualified in Public Forum. Moreover, this is the first year of competition for Argueta and Geidel, who had never debated before October.
“This is a great opportunity for our kids to compete at the highest level,” said first year coach Sam Garchik. “ All of our students are juniors or younger, so I know that the team will be really good next year as well,” he continued.
Additionally, five students will be attending debate camp this summer at Simpson College, where they will learn and improve on skills to make them even more competitive. “We have built our team on the success our past accomplishments," said Horvath."Amy Drake (past coach) encouraged us to work hard and that’s why we are where we are this season.”
Assistant Debate Coach, Susan Gates, will take the team to Dallas and will also judge rounds.
