A Busy Summer for Debate

Along with relaxation, summer break brings unique opportunities to learn, develop and hone skills. The St. Mark’s debate team experienced them all at the Dartmouth Debate Institute and the University of Michigan Debate Institute high school summer camp programs. Marksmen attended several weeks of skills and strategy training culminating in debate tournaments at the end of camp. 

  

“My favorite part of camp was all the friends I made there,” Samuel Posten ’25 said. “The best time of the day was when we finished lecture and had time to explore Ann Arbor and visit restaurants and shops. Some of my best memories were catching fireflies and getting food at night with friends.” 

  

The camps provide intensive skills work and opportunities for in-depth instruction and extensive analysis. Both camps concluded with a tournament where Marksmen performed well. The team of Liam Seaward ’24 and Sid Badare ’24 reached the semifinals of the Dartmouth tournament out of more than 50 teams. Bennett Applbaum ’24 and Austin Dunbar ’25 reached the finals in their intralab group in the Michigan tournament. The teams of Ashrit Manduva ’24 and Ahsan Tahirkheli ’24, and Samuel Posten ’25 and Anish Guddati ’24 reached the elimination rounds of the Michigan tournament out of more than 70 teams competing. 

  

“I love the collaborative aspect of debate,” Tahirkhelli said. “Being part of a team and debating with a partner has taught me a lot about what it means to work in a group setting. I’ve learned about ways to communicate and coordinate effectively.” 

  

Debate coach Tim Mahoney also stayed busy attending the Georgetown Debate Seminar. He had the opportunity to connect with alums in the Washington, D.C. area and field reports on how the boys were doing at camp.  

  

“Assistant coach Jason Peterson and I received multiple, very complimentary reports about the debaters from their various instructors,” Mahoney said. “One comment that sticks out was how our boys’ really seems to care about and watch out for their teammates.’” 

  

With the debate season already underway the next tournament takes place in Grapevine from September 9-10, followed by Greenhill, September 17-20.