DURHAM. Conn – The Fitch debate team competed again earlier this month, and came home with more accolades and a second spot at state finals.
The team traveled to Coginchaug Regional High School in Durham on Feb. 2 to argue with teams from across the state in the fourth competition of the year for the Connecticut Debate A
ssociation, or CDA. In the end, sophomore Katie Virtue received 5th Place Speaker honors in the novice division. Virtue’s placement out of 65 other debaters secured the team a second spot to attend the state championship.
With one singleton, the varsity and novice teams arrived at Coginchaug with their coach, Rick Pecka, at around 8:45 a.m. The motion for the day was, “This house believes the Chevron deference should be overturned.” The debaters built their arguments to be argued throughout four rounds with teams from Staples, Farmington, and Joel Barlow.
Junior Naman Patel, the team’s lone singleton, was called up by the head of the CDA to receive a partner for the upcoming debate competition. However, with no other singletons available, Patel was able to judge his first debate competition.
“Judging changed my perspective on individual rounds as I was able to see how people got better as the day went on, and I was able to see different and similar perspectives and arguments,” Patel explained. “The judging process has changed how I will debate in the future as it made me realize I needed to ask more questions to my opponents and also that I should repeat my arguments to the judge to really nail the point home.”
After all the regular rounds, the Varsity Final saw Fairfield-Warde defeat Joel Barlow by a 2-1 ballot. Both teams had faced each other in the fourth round, making this a CDA first.
Virtue joins fellow sophomore Megan Lacey, who earned her way to states in November, in the state final on March 23 at Joel Barlow High School in Redding.
The Fitch Debate team now looks forward to their next competition on March 2 at Stamford High School before the state finals.
Editor’s Note: This article was updated on March 4, 2024 to reflect the updated location of the CDA State Finals.
