On October 4, two novice members of the Lincoln Academy debate team competed at the Novice Debate Tournament in Sullivan that is the kickoff to the competitive debate season in Maine. The team coach and a veteran member helped organize and run the event.
The Novice tournament is a combination of a debate workshop and scrimmage. Morning workshops teach participants about the different types of Debate: Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, and Congressional, and Speech: Poetry, Prose and Oratorical Declamation. The afternoon scrimmage debate in the afternoon runs two sessions instead of the usual four.
Novices Ava Ward (ninth grade), competing in Lincoln-Douglas, and Lily Christopher (tenth grade), competing in Congressional Debate, traveled to Sullivan to compete. Veteran debate team member Julia Deitrick helped staff the event, both running the morning training session for Congressional debate and judging the Lincoln-Douglas debate in the afternoon.
Lincoln Academy debate team advisor Kathleen Halm served as one of three judges for the Congressional Debate scrimmage. “This wouldn’t normally happen because I had a student competing, but there weren’t many judges,” she explained. “I got to see Lily Christopher compete against ten other students. In the chamber she stood out for her preparation, her speaking, and her engagement with each bill in the debate.” After that session, Lily was ranked first by all three judges.
Meanwhile, Halm said, “Ava Ward was extremely well-prepared going in, having worked on her cases for over a week before the tournament. Her cases, both Affirmative and Negative, were very strong, had good examples and were well defended. My impression was proved right when she placed first!!”
With two first-place finishes, Lincoln Academy’s 2025-26 debate season is off to a great start. “We were all so happy and the van ride home was full of joy and laughter–the best possible outcome for a novice starting out in high school debate,” reflected Halm. “I’m so proud of Ava and Lily–they have a great future in Debate!”
