In the high-stakes arena of competitive high school debate, where critical thinking and quick wit are essential to tournament success, the Waring Debate team has come a long way in just one year, from novice debaters to formidable competitors. Coach Casey Stevens explains that, “Building the Waring Debate team has been one of the most rewarding experiences as an educator, stemming from the pride I have watching our students hone their skills throughout the season.”
The busy high school debate season runs from the late fall through early spring, where teams compete in multiple tournaments over the weekends at the local, regional and state level, with championship tournaments occurring in March to conclude the season. This season, our debaters participated in 10 tournaments, with one student qualifying for Nationals and the Tournament of Champions. With the season wrapped, let’s look back at our journey and explore the core formats that make up the world of debate.
Casey explains that most of the preparation for debate tournaments and matches focuses on the technical aspects. “Students learn how to research, write a case, and build arguments step by step, including how to use evidence (“cards”) and construct a clear framework. As a group, we also work on speaking skills: how to be both quick and clear, how to carry contentions through a round, how to rebut an opponent’s case by identifying flaws, and how to ask focused, critical questions during crossfire. Debate is also highly collaborative. Partners work closely together, one may be speaking while the other is writing the next argument, passing notes, or finding supporting evidence in real time.”
Debating teaches students how to think, not what to think. They learn how to build arguments, listen carefully, respond under pressure, and engage with ideas they may not initially agree with, often on complex, real-world issues that don’t have simple answers. A key part of that is learning to truly listen, actively processing what their opponents are saying and deciding how to respond in real time.
The Waring Debate Society is an opportunity for students in grades 8-12 (Groups 1-5) to participate in the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA). The Association is geared toward connecting, supporting, and inspiring a diverse community committed to empowering students through speech and debate. In conjunction with this mission, the Waring Debate Society is not merely a competition, but rather a way to foster informed and intelligent discussions within and beyond the Waring community.
Since high school debate isn’t a one-size-fits-all activity, debaters can choose the format of debate they feel most comfortable and confident using. High school debate offers a style for every interest, encompassing deep philosophy, the rigor of fast-paced politics, and the theatrical element of congressional policy debate that mimics the U.S. legislative process.
While there are four main formats for debating under the NSDA, the two most common formats our debaters have participated in are the Lincoln-Douglas Debate and the Public Forum Debate.
Lincoln-Douglas (LD) Debate is a one-on-one format named after the 1858 Illinois debates, distinguished by its focus on ethics and philosophy rather than legal specifics. It has a “deep” and philosophical tone, with arguments centered on abstract concepts like “Justice” versus “Liberty.” The goal for each debater is to establish a “Value” and a “Criterion” to prove the moral resolution on their side.
Public Forum (PF) Debate is a 2-vs-2 style created to be easily accessible to the “average person.” Its topics change monthly, focusing on current events, and the format is fast-paced yet conversational. A unique feature is the “Crossfire” segment, where all four debaters can ask each other questions at once. The ultimate goal is to persuade a “lay judge” (someone without a background in debate) using clear logic and evidence.
The oldest and most rigorous format, Policy Debate, is a 2-vs-2 team event focused on a single, year-long topic concerning a change in government policy. The style is extremely technical and research-heavy, often involving “spreading” (rapid speaking) to present extensive evidence. The ultimate goal is for the Affirmative team to propose a specific plan and the Negative team to argue why that plan will fail or cause a “Disadvantage.”
Congressional Debate is a style that mimics the U.S. legislative process, in which a large group of students (15–25) debates various bills and resolutions in a chamber setting. The atmosphere is a blend of political simulation and debate, requiring participants to follow “Robert’s Rules of Order” and elect a Presiding Officer. The ultimate goal is to pass or defeat legislation through 3-minute speeches while demonstrating leadership and parliamentary etiquette.
This debate season our Waring team embarked on an intensive journey of preparation and competition, participating in tournaments from Chicago, Illinois, to various locations in Massachusetts, including Lexington, Arlington, and Newton, before ultimately reaching the Harvard National Speech and Debate Tournament in Cambridge. Many of our team members this year are brand new to the activity and have taken to it quickly.
In November, Debate Captain Micah Byron-Smarra ‘26 showcased formidable skill at the prestigious Glenbrooks Invitational in Chicago, Illinois. Competing in the Lincoln-Douglas debate format, Micah advanced to elimination rounds and ultimately tied for 9th place out of a field of 144 of the nation’s best debaters. The Glenbrooks Invitational is one of the largest and most highly-regarded high school forensics competitions in the U.S., serving as a Tournament of Champions (TOC) qualifier. A huge congratulations to Micah for this outstanding achievement, and a special thank you to Micah’s mother, Karen, for attending!
On Saturday, November 22, two novice Public Forum Debate teams attended “Little Lex.” Team members included Ashton Horan & Jenna Pario and CC Ragalevsky & Jacksanna McAdoo-Comer. Tarin McAdoo-Comer served as Waring’s judge and chaperone for the event. We are proud of our novice teams for their participation in this event.
In December, three Waring teams competed and all gained valuable experience at the St. Nick’s Showdown in Arlington, Massachusetts. This gave them valuable experience and supported them in their future debate endeavors. Debate captain Micah led the team in Varsity Lincoln-Douglas Debate style, going undefeated and taking second place at the tournament overall.
In the Novice Public Forum Debate, Jacksanna and Jenna had a strong showing and significantly honed their skills. In the middle school bracket, Liliana Martorano and Kepler Fouser also gained valuable experience, finishing fourth overall. This tournament provided yet another step toward the Harvard National Speech and Debate Tournament in February.
Fresh into 2026, the Waring Debate team headed to the Newton South Winter Festival with three teams of debaters ready to begin their journey into the academic sport. Jacksanna, Emily Fedorowich, Mariam Reda, Sajel Streb, Ashton, and Taylor Napoleone all diligently prepared their cases throughout the week and worked to hone them throughout the day at Newton South.
The team pulled off several wins, which is incredible for such new debaters! This is great progress for Waring Debate as the team continues to rebuild and strengthen its program.
In an effort to get in even more practice and to prepare for the Harvard National Speech and Debate Tournament, Waring’s Debate team formed a new alliance with Manchester-Essex High School via a scrimmage. Jacksanna, Mariam, Sajel, Estelle, and Emily all traveled to Manchester High School to participate in several debate rounds, where they honed their cases. We are grateful to Coach Sally Berkowitz at Manchester for agreeing to scrimmage and compare notes!
Over the weekend of February 14th and 15th, our debaters headed to Cambridge to take part in the prestigious Harvard tournament.
Five teams from Waring competed in Public Forum and Lincoln-Douglas style debates. Debate captain Micah led the team, competing in the Harvard Round Robin on Friday and the general tournament for the remainder of the weekend. Micah had a very strong performance, scoring over three wins in each event.
Participating in the Public Forum Debates, Leo Goodman Lorber and Cate Hennesey gained valuable experience in debate theory that will help them in future rounds. In the Public Forum Novice Division, Mariam, CC, Ashton, Taylor, Lucy, Jacksanna, Kepler, and Isaac all competed strongly. Seasoned debater Ana and Emily also attended on Saturday to support the team. In an impressive performance, each novice team secured at least one win! With Harvard being the most difficult tournament of the year, this is a massive accomplishment for the debaters.
“This year of debate has been an especially rewarding experience,” notes Casey, “as most of our current debaters are new and saw increasing wins as the year progressed. We were able to watch students grow — not just in skill, but in how they engage with the world around them. Being able to witness that growth — and to begin each round by recognizing their effort and commitment — is what makes coaching debate so rewarding.”
A huge thank you to Tarin, who has also played an integral part in building and supporting this team, consistently volunteering her time to ensure we stay on top of preparation, logistics, and future trajectory. The success of these events would not have been possible without her.
