The debate team from Providence Classical Christian School competed in the state tournament of Washington State Forensics Association at Gonzaga Universityon the weekend of March 19. There were 32 total teams who qualified throughout the debate season to compete in the state tournament, and Providence had two of them.

Every pair of debaters was guaranteed to compete in the first six rounds, and then their record determined whether they would move on to the elimination rounds. Specifically, all teams with at least four wins moved on.

Providence’s team of Nate Smidt and Landon Butaud earned a very admirable record of three wins, but that was not enough to advance on. However, the team of Daniel Jekel and Wesley Su did have enough wins and advanced.

Each of the elimination rounds has three judges, adding objectivity and ensuring a quality decision. In the first two elimination rounds, Jekel and Su won on a 3-0 decision. The final round was very close, but Providence’s team lost on a very close 2-1 decision. The team earned its highest finish in school history.