Parker School debate team shares state title

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After everyone expressed their opinions, there was no further discussion, and the outcome was not unexpected.

After everyone expressed their opinions, there was no further discussion, and the outcome was not unexpected.

The Parker School debate team had the last word — again — at the Hawaii State Forensic Championship, tying ‘Iolani School for the title in the competition April 9-11 conducted at Kamehameha and Punahou schools on Oahu.

Parker and ‘Iolani each finished with 24 speaker points. Parker debaters won the championship outright in 2014.

Parker had 35 students qualify and compete in the debate tournament, its highest total ever.

Parker also won individual state championships in three of the six categories of debate. No other school in the state has won more than one category.

Some of Parker School’s top finishers included:

• Sean Dunnington and Anna McFarland, state champions in beginning public forum debate.

• Bryan Bollinger, state champion in novice Lincoln-Douglas debate.

• Josh Yost and Kosuke Kume, state champions in junior varsity policy debate.

• Maia Tarnas and Michael Note, third place in advanced public forum debate.

• Athena Coley, fourth place in novice Lincoln-Douglas debate.

• Savanna Harriman-Pote, fourth place in championship Lincoln-Douglas debate.

• Kirk Hubbard and Shen MacKensie, fourth place in junior varsity policy debate.

Parker School’s speech team, newly introduced this year, not only qualified but sent 19 students to the speech portion of the competition, and earned two trophies:

• Matthew Bal earned a second place and Nya Phillips a fourth place in impromptu speaking.