Grady High School Debate Team Wins Big at Bruce Rogers Classic Tournament

By: Alicia Sands Lurry

This past weekend, 16 members of the award-winning Henry W. Grady High School Jesters speech and debate team scored big after competing and winning at the Bruce Rogers Classic Tournament at Houston County High School in Warner Robins, Georgia.

Here are the results:

Novice Public Forum Debate: PJ Cooper and Zach Hubert, Co-Champions; PJ Cooper, Second-Place Speaker; Zach Hubert, Sixth-Place Speaker

Varsity Public Forum Debate: Ethan Damiani and Harry Suazo, Quarter-Finalists; Ethan Damiani, Fourth-Place Speaker

Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Swagatam Das, Quarter-Finalist

Varsity Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Alex Opsahl, Semi-Finalist

Impromptu Speaking: Franky Fernandez, Champion; Robert Weimar, Second Place; Theo Weimar, Third Place

Extemporaneous Speaking: Franky Fernandez, Champion; Robert Weimar, Second Place; Harrison Gray, Fourth Place; Theo Weimar, Sixth Place

Alex Opsahl, Theo Weimar, Robert Weimar, Franky Fernandez, and Harrison Gray now qualify for the state debate championship, which will be held at Marist High School, March 3-5, 2017.

Grady speech and debate coach Mario Herrera congratulated the team on their success.

“The success at the tournament speaks to a young team full of talent, competitiveness and aspiration,” Herrera said. “I am very impressed with the talent of this group. I’m looking quite forward to seeing how they perform, and how the Jesters move forward to continue its successful run at speech and debate tournaments.”