South has four nationally ranked debaters this year for the first time since 2013-2014, Debate Coach, Tara Tate said.

South has a long history of nationally ranked debaters, Debate Coach, Tara Tate said. The ranked students this year, senior Vivi Webb, senior Evan Blitz, senior Louis Martinez-Scarampi, and junior Neel Patel are engaged in the highest level of academic strategy and critical thinking, Tate said.  

The most important strategies to be successful in debate are a perfect combination of confidence and humbleness, which are key qualities Tate wants to exhibit when mentoring her students, she explained. Tate sets high expectations for her team and strives to push her debaters to be the best they can be, but also maintaining their well rounded academics and good character, she said.

“We press our students to be excellent and outstanding, but we always value the type of person they are first,” Tate said. “I want them to have a strong character, and mental health, while having a good balance between debate, other activities, and their academic life as well.”

The debaters had an idea of joining the team before coming to South, they demonstrated strong argumentative skills and potential as younger children and were told to give it a try, Martinez-Scarampi explained.

“A barber told me in 8th grade that I’d be good at debate based on the conversations we were having,” Martinez-Scarampi said.

One take away from Webb’s debate career at South was that she has found her voice and confidence within her voice, she says. Debate has allowed her to defend herself in real life situations and think through problems when put on the spot, Webb said.

“Debate taught me how to think through certain arguments, how to construct a logical defense of an argument or a proposal, and how to spot bad arguments,” Webb said. “I think it’s made me a more critical and self aware person.”

As ranked debaters, the students travel around the nation for debates and make long lasting connections, Martinez-Scarampi said. Besides glory, debate has brought him friendships that he wouldn’t have found otherwise, Martinez-Scarampi said.

 “I have debate friends from all across the country who I’ve met that I’ll have connections with for the rest of my life,” Martinez-Scarampi said. “It’s been such a nice community that I am able to be a part of.”

As a coach, Tate feeds off of the debaters’ excitement and passion towards arguments; they keep her energized and eager for debates, she says.

“They are hungry for wins and recognize the privilege they have debating for a legacy program,” Tate said.