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Pumpkin Classic rolls down the hill from Rossland to Trail for debates

The 26th Annual Pumpkin Debate Classic was held at J.L. Crowe Secondary this year

The 26th Annual Pumpkin Debate Classic was held at J.L. Crowe Secondary this year

With the reconfiguration of Rossland Secondary to a K-9 school, this enduring tournament moved down the hill on Nov. 2 in order to carry on the tradition.

Teams participated from Kelowna Secondary, Penticton Secondary, Stanley Humphries, Twin Rivers Elementary, Kinnaird Elementary (Castlegar), L.V. Rogers, Trafalgar (Nelson), J.L. Crowe and Rossland.

The topic for the junior and senior categories was:  “Be it resolved that the Senate be abolished.” Students wrestled with not only the media infiltration but also considered the constitutional implications.  Many in the end, indicated that the Senate should be remain intact but with reform.

The novice topic was “Be it resolved that zoos do more harm than good.”  And while the need to have animals in their natural habitat was indeed an important goal, the students did not want species to become extinct.

The novice category included students as young as Grade 5 and resulted in a variety of school team placements.

Keegan Fry, a Rossland import to J.L. Crowe came in first place, Peyton Reed of Rossland was second, and Lily Huttemann, originally from Rossland and now at Trafalgar, was third.

The novice team results saw the Rossland pair of Peyton Reed and Hanna Kelmensen come first, Keegan Fry and Eliza Dawson of J.L. Crowe take second place, and Lily Huttemann and Madeline Grace-Wood take third spot.

Grace-Wood jumped in carte blanche as both Huttemann’s and Madeline’s partners were ill.  Without any preparation in the topic and the assistance of Huttemann and her partner’s information, the two jelled to make it work on the spot. Now that’s flying in the moment. In all, 20 students participated in this category.

In the junior category, the top results were split between J.L. Crowe and Rossland schools as Maggie Chan, once again a Rosslander and now at the Crowe paired with Matthew McConnachie of JLC to tie for first, Aven Cosbey (Rossland) placed second and Bronwyn Moore (Rossland) came in third.

In the team division, Maggie Chan and Matthew McConnachie (JLC) placed first, Aven Cosbey and Bronwyn Moore (Rossland) placed second and Conner Dunman paired with Robbie Turnbull (Rossland) placed third. The students debated both in the cross-examination format as well as the Canadian National Debate Format (CNDF).

The senior category was dominated by schools from outside the region.

Individually, Jacob Wilson of Penticton Secondary (PSS) took first place, Tia Huttemann (LVR - Nelson) was second, and, Daniel Leigmann of Kelowna (KSS) was third.  Team results ranked Anne Lu and Jacob Wilson of Penticton High first, Kyle Mitchell and Daniel Liegmann (KSS) second and Cory Henderson and Michael Carelse (PSS) third.

Students may now look forward to the next tournament to be held at LV Rogers in Nelson on Dec. 7. This tourney will have the students practicing their impromptu style debating and public speaking skills.

A very big thank you to all the community members who volunteered their time to encourage our future citizens grow their presentation skill set.