Leon High School Speech Team
UIL CX District
First-time debaters argue past the competition
On Thursday, January 30, two first-time debaters gave last year's district champions a run for their money. Leon High School sophomore, Skye Anzaldua, and senior, Pawandeep Singh, teamed up to argue this year's resolution for Cross-Examination (CX) debate. Although Skye debated a few rounds last year for Navasota High School, this was really a first year for all of them, including Mr. Neff.
CX debate is a demanding event lasting an hour and half per round, with students normally debating three rounds before elimination brackets are ever drawn up. This year our students debated the resolution: The United States federal government should substantially increase its economic engagement toward Cuba, Mexico or Venezuela. The students have to write a plan that addresses a real need and then prove that they can effectively solve the problem.
After the first three rounds at CX district, which was hosted by Bosqueville High School at Bosqueville Baptist Church, Skye and Pawan were ranked second overall in the pool of debate teams. After a decisive win in the semi-final match, Leon High School was paired up with last year's district champions from Bosqueville. Our students adapted well and came out swinging, but fell short by one vote earning them second place. Second place still gives them a ticket to the UIL CX State Tournament in Austin, Texas. It is the largest tournament of its kind in the United States. 64 teams from each conference, 1A through 5A, will roll in to Austin during spring break to debate for two days to determine who is the best in the state. In addition to ranking second, out of all the debaters that day Skye Anzaldua was awarded Best Speaker.
"I continue to be amazed by Skye and Pawan," commented Mr. Neff. "These two came in eager to do CX, which is not an event that we have done, but their willingness to practice and compete have made it all worth while. Most experienced teams like the one we met in finals research the topic in May, go to camp in the summer, and debate throughout the fall. I knew we would be starting at significant deficit when we picked this up after Thanksgiving, but the two of them made monumental progress. To be one vote away from unseating last year's district champ is huge in my book."