Four Permian High School debaters are heading for state competition March 16-18 at University of Texas at Austin.
Led by Speech and Debate Coach Seth Trevino, the four students include Allie Duckworth, her partner Ivory Dungan, Abigail Scott and her partner Sapna Yadalla.
Helping lift them to state were Michael Galindo and William Hueman.
“We could not have done without those boys. They didn’t get the state nod, but they definitely helped propel everybody else up,” Trevino said.
He added that as far as he knows this is the first time in a while that PHS has made it to state in debate.
“It’s an excellent group,” Trevino said.
Specific practices are held after school once a week, but they also practice in class and Trevino has different events that he runs other than policy debate. A lot of the students cross into other events.
“In Policy, we’ve been debating since August. The U.S. working with NATO and either artificial intelligence, biotechnology or cybersecurity,” Trevino said.
There are also Lincoln-Douglas debates which are tackling term limits, extemporaneous speaking which covers current events and acting.
Trevino’s focus is policy debate.
“The future is bright for Permian debate on all fronts,” he added.
This is the first year Scott, a 17-year-old junior, has competed in debate.
“I had an extra elective open and I just really wanted to focus on academics. Also, I needed a speech credit as well,” Scott said.
“It wasn’t something I had ever tried before. I was really nervous to start off because it was something new to me. But once you get going, it’s actually really, really fun and very enjoyable,” she added.
Scott said they are preparing and getting ready for what’s to come by going over speech drills and doing all they can to perform well at state.
“It is a lot, but it’s also very enjoyable. It gives you something to do and it’s definitely a personal challenge, especially with the different positions, the different speakers, but it’s never a dull moment. You’re never bored, you’re always doing something, so I enjoy that,” Scott said.
She added that debate has helped her with her school work.
“It has given me more confidence if I have to do presentations. It also gives me framework for not only essays but arguments, as well; if I want to make an argumentative essay as well. It definitely has helped me in all areas and I feel like it’s also given me more confidence not only in school but also in my day to day life,” Scott said.
Dungan, a 17-year-old junior, is in her second year of debate.
“I heard about it from a few friends, so I decided to try it out and then I ended up really loving it. The environment is really great here, as well as the coach,” Dungan said.
She added that she’s really nervous about state, but also super excited.
“I’m happy to be taking Permian to state and working with all my fellow classmates. They’re really great. I can’t wait to work hard with them and accomplish a bunch of things,” Dungan said.
She added that debate has broadened her horizons.
“It’s opened me up to a bunch of different world problems that I want to focus on more. … I went from wanting to be a doctor to a lawyer, so it’s definitely impacted me a lot,” Dungan said.
She added that she’s grateful to be working with the team she has and to have an “amazing coach” like Trevino.
She said Trevino has kept them working hard, but is also an encouraging person.
Duckworth, also a 17-year-old junior, has been in debate for two years.
She learned about debate through a Schoology post.
“I had just recently gotten into writing. I thought about pursuing a career in journalism, so I thought this would be a good outlet for that. I just kind of started. I wasn’t really sure what it was like and then I ended up really, really enjoying it,” Duckworth said.
She’s still in a little bit of shock about making it to state, but really excited.
“We worked really hard to get here, so I’m not surprised that we were able to do it at all. It’s just the craziest thing that we’re actually going to be going and competing at state, but I think we’re all really excited. I know I am, a little nervous but excited,” Duckworth said.
She added that her teammates are what has made her stay around.
“It’s really, truly a family here. It’s unlike any other team I’ve ever been on. We’re all very close. We all work really well together and it makes competing and even the stressful parts of it really fun and worth it just because we’re all so close and such a close family here,” Duckworth said.
Yadalla, a 16-year-old junior, joined debate last year, but is not in the class.
“I’ve had good partners to help me learn, the ones that are in the class. So they helped me adapt,” Yadalla said.
She met Trevino near the end of her freshman year.
“I didn’t really know we had a debate program, but we met on some UIL trip and he suggested that I’d be really good at it for sophomore year. He says he really liked my demeanor. He thought I’d be good at debate, so even though I didn’t take it seriously at first, as sophomore year progressed, especially January or so, I started really caring about the program,” Yadalla said.
She added that it’s exciting to be heading to state.
“Because last year, we thought we really had a really good shot. But this year, we’re really excited because we actually are going and not only it’s just one team going it’s two so it’s great that we, you know, took both spots that we all get to have a nice trip together; go to Austin. So just the whole trip and the whole, even if we don’t, per se, do well, it’ll still be an exciting trip,” Yadalla said.
She added that it has helped her in academics. She is in academic decathlon so there is a lot of speaking and essays.
“Debate really helped my speaking skills in that aspect. I learn a lot from debate. I feel more informed about the world. I feel like I know much more now about these topics than I would before, and especially just my logic and reasoning skills, I feel like not necessarily the math type of logic but just in general logic; arguing, remaining calm while talking to people. I think that’s really helped me in my everyday day … life, even without classes,” Yadalla said.
She added that she’s really glad the debate program is around.
“I really hope more people join because we’ve been growing year after year. I think last year there was maybe 20 kids, and then this year there’s around 40,” Yadalla said.
Since a lot of the team is juniors, they are hoping to attract some younger students like freshmen and sophomores into the program.
“It’s a really beneficial program. It’s fun. We have fun trips. Trevino’s a great guy, so I really hope a lot of younger kids join it,” Yadalla said.
