Sophomore debaters hit top-ranking spots
Liz Klimas
Issue date: 1/22/09 Section: News
For the first time, Hillsdale debate coach Jeremy Christensen said that according to his knowledge, Hillsdale has two debaters - a team - ranked within the top 35 in the nation.
Sophomores Liv Wolcott and Will Cooney place 33 out of 643 teams to date for the 2008-2009 debate season, even though both are fairly new to debate. Neither Wolcott nor Cooney had extensive debate experience before coming to Hillsdale. Cooney, who only began debating in college, said Christensen has a knack for coaching new debaters.
"He is one of the main reasons we got to where we are," Wolcott said in agreement.
In addition to Christensen's guidance, Wolcott and Cooney attribute their success to a calm debating style. They are not speed talkers, like many other teams, Christensen said; that's not the way he coaches his debaters.
I think we have a better connection with the judges because we are more relaxed," Wolcott said.
Christensen agreed their attitude has contributed to their success.
"First of all, they are both calm," he said. "They are two of the nicest people on campus. They know how to take a ribbing. That contributes to some of their calmness. Secondly, both are eager to examine their assumptions and the assumptions of other people. They are coachable and are able to grow on their own."
Wolcott and Cooney travel to San Diego Feb. 6 for the 12th annual Point Loma Round Robin Tournament of Champions. This event, Christensen said, is one of the most exclusive in the country.
"Teams competing in this field are the top 20 teams in the United States," Christensen said. "It is as good as it gets."
Wolcott and Cooney will prepare for this tournament by focusing on debate theory, in addition to keeping up on philosophy and current events. Wolcott said Hillsdale provides a good education for debate topics.
"The stuff we learn in class is very applicable to debate," she said. "Debate is just about thinking. We've been taught to think. If we approach a topic logically, the truth will come out."
Christensen said the debate team as a whole benefits from Wolcott and Cooney's success because they are able to practice on each other and the two set high standards. Only 16 places behind Wolcott and Cooney are junior Alexandria Carraher and Brian Leonard.
Sophomores Liv Wolcott and Will Cooney place 33 out of 643 teams to date for the 2008-2009 debate season, even though both are fairly new to debate. Neither Wolcott nor Cooney had extensive debate experience before coming to Hillsdale. Cooney, who only began debating in college, said Christensen has a knack for coaching new debaters.
"He is one of the main reasons we got to where we are," Wolcott said in agreement.
In addition to Christensen's guidance, Wolcott and Cooney attribute their success to a calm debating style. They are not speed talkers, like many other teams, Christensen said; that's not the way he coaches his debaters.
I think we have a better connection with the judges because we are more relaxed," Wolcott said.
Christensen agreed their attitude has contributed to their success.
"First of all, they are both calm," he said. "They are two of the nicest people on campus. They know how to take a ribbing. That contributes to some of their calmness. Secondly, both are eager to examine their assumptions and the assumptions of other people. They are coachable and are able to grow on their own."
Wolcott and Cooney travel to San Diego Feb. 6 for the 12th annual Point Loma Round Robin Tournament of Champions. This event, Christensen said, is one of the most exclusive in the country.
"Teams competing in this field are the top 20 teams in the United States," Christensen said. "It is as good as it gets."
Wolcott and Cooney will prepare for this tournament by focusing on debate theory, in addition to keeping up on philosophy and current events. Wolcott said Hillsdale provides a good education for debate topics.
"The stuff we learn in class is very applicable to debate," she said. "Debate is just about thinking. We've been taught to think. If we approach a topic logically, the truth will come out."
Christensen said the debate team as a whole benefits from Wolcott and Cooney's success because they are able to practice on each other and the two set high standards. Only 16 places behind Wolcott and Cooney are junior Alexandria Carraher and Brian Leonard.
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