New Digs!

Shout Out to our Debate Alums

Casady debaters have matriculated to some amazing colleges and universities since our program began, including Harvard, Pomona, Richmond, St. John's, Cornell, Tufts, and OU. I wanted to take a moment to wish them our best as they begin or continue pursuing their dreams around the country. Good luck, gang! We look forward to hearing from you as you encounter new challenges and achieve great things!

Ahoy, Mateys! Ocean journeys ahead!

We are weighing anchor and preparing to launch out into this year's policy topic: Earth's oceans! Our intro camp starts on Monday, August 11 and runs through Thursday, August 14 from 12:30-3:30pm in the McClendon Middle Division, room 102. Enrollment is online through Casady Summer Programs.

Our first tournament is just over the horizon: the Wake Forest Early Bird, Sept. 5-8. We will be traveling to Winston-Salem, North Carolina to visit this beautiful college campus and plunge into this year's field of competition. I look forward to seeing everyone!

Spring Update

Well, we've debated up the road, crossed the border to Longhorn Land once again, and traversed the continent to the snowy realms of Massachusetts, and our winter debate whirlwind is finally winding down. NFL/NSDA Districts was a crazy, fun tournament yet again this year. The novices learned a lot debating with varsity partners -- thanks to everyone for their willingness to roll with that. We had two teams make it through double elimination rounds to the third day, both finishing 4-2. Natasha and Deja earned an alternate spot to nationals!

I've updated the NFL/NSDA points standings (to the left), so congrats to all of you who have moved up a degree, or even two degrees!

Up next: Novice Nationals at Woodward Academy in Atlanta, GA! Go Cyclones!

Next Year's Topic Announced

Next year, we will have to put on our wet suits and get ready to dive in, because the topic is oceans!

2014-2015 Topic
Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its non-military exploration and/or development of the Earth's oceans.

Prepping Fun

The team is gearing up for some good debates tomorrow at Heritage Hall's J.W. Patterson tournament. We made practice fun today by flowing songs from the soundtrack to the movie Frozen and doing speaking drills altogether. Passersby in the hallway during speaking drill time invariably wonder what is going on in here with all that racket! Our favorite drill is the preacher drill, in which debaters practice reading their cards full of conviction and determined to convert the crowd and bring them to heaven. I have never heard our team so passionate about their arguments! Go Cyclones!

Medal Mania at Jenks!

The novices raked it in at Jenks this past weekend. After making it through prelim rounds undefeated with 4-0 records, they all advanced to elims and finished with first, second, and third place honors. In first place with top speaker points: Emily Fogg and Alexandria Williams. In second place: Ananya Bhaktaram and Rachel King. In third place: Kaitlyn Barthell and Hunter McHaffey. Not only did they bring home a slew of medals, but they also get the "award" for best dressed debaters! Congratulations, ladies!

Cpt Olivia is Tufts Bound!

Congratulations to Captain Olivia Pribich for getting accepted early decision to Tufts University in Boston! We are so proud of you! Congrats also go out to former debaters Defne Altan, who is Harvard-bound, and Grace Gliva, who will be attending Cornell University. Way to go, Cyclone Class of 2014!

UT -- Frozen in Time, Literally

The UT tournament this year is etched forever in our memory, if only for the exhausting trip home during the aftermath of the north Texas ice storm. Thank you to all the parents who helped get us home safely!

The varsity improved our record at UT with a 3-3 record. The novices did well and learned a lot, although we did not end up bringing home any medals this year. The tournament was hampered overall by lack of attendance due to the ice storm. We had fun, though, and were very glad to get home!