The 2016-17 debate season has started off strong. There have been a total of 13 tournaments so far, and out of those tournaments, there have been seven where LHS students have placed 3rd place or higher.

Debate teacher Jeff Plinsky has high hopes for the rest of the season.

“We’ve had a really good season so far, particularly our young debaters,” Plinsky said. “Our first year kids are really stepping up and that’s been fun to watch.”

In the most recent tournament, sophomore Vera Petrovic and senior Abbie Treff placed 2nd in the Open Division with a 5-0 record. Treff has been a member of the debate team for four years at Lawrence High, and is excited to compete this year.

“My best memory [is] probably be going second place at my most recent tournament, just because it was kind of my first real success of the season,” Treff said. “It was good.”

Current accomplishments for the season:

Sept. 16 and 17 – Washburn Rural HS

1st place, Open Division, Apramay Mishra & Bridget Smith, 8-1 win/loss

7th place, Speaker Award, Bridget Smith

Honorable Mention, Jackson Hoy & Calvin DeWitt, 4-2 win/loss

Sept. 17 – Blue Valley Southwest HS

7th place, Novice Division, Daniel Davidson & J.J. Smith, 4-1 win/loss, 23 speaker points

Sept. 24 – East Kansas Novice Opener

6 of 8 ballots, Allison Applehanz & Katie Gleason

6 of 8 ballots, Anoosha Redd & Sami Turner

6 of 8 ballots, Nikki Aqui & Hanna Liebegott

Best Ballot Award – Bryce Dunn

Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 – Olathe Northwest HS

1st place, Sweepstakes Award

1st place, Open Division, Bryce Dunn & Sungho Hwang, 8-0 win/loss

4th place, Varsity Division, Chisato Kimura & Claire Walther, quarterfinalists, DCI Bid

4th place, Open Division, Vera Petrovic & Carson Redmond, quarterfinalists

4th place, Junior Varsity Division, Emily Guo & Sarah Krambeer, quarterfinalists

Oct. 1 – Seaman HS

3rd place, Sweepstakes Award

2nd place, Novice Division, Jay Fritzler & Jack Wertin, 4-1 win/loss, 23 speaker points

8th place, Open Division, Macie Albertson & Haylee Rose, 4-1 win/loss, 25 speaker points

Oct. 1 – Olathe North HS

4th place, Novice Division, Jacob Miller & Vanya Racy

Oct. 7 & 8 – Blue Valley West HS

4th place, Open Division, Louie Farris & Mackenzie Ruder, quarterfinalists

4th place, Novice Division, Nikki Aqui & Amelia Vasquez, quarterfinalists

Oct. 14 & 15 – Blue Valley North HS

3rd place, Novice Division, Amelia Vasquez & Lex Moulton, semifinalists

Oct.14 – Shawnee Mission Northwest HS

5th place, Novice Division, Courtney Fritzler & Banner Williams, 4-1 win/loss, 25 speaker points

Oct. 14 – Ottawa HS

2nd place, Sweepstakes Award

1st place, Open Division, Apramay Mishra & Bridget Smith, 4-1 win/loss, 17 speaker points

5th place, Open Division, Emily Wallthall & Patrick Wroczynski, 4-1 win/loss, 24 speaker points

6th place, Open Division, Vera Petrovic & Carson Redmond, 4-1 win/loss, 25 speaker points

6th place, Novice Division, Nikki Aqui & Hanna Liebegott, 4-1 win/loss, 24 speaker points

Oct. 21 & 22 – Topeka West HS

4th place, Novice Division, Allison Applehanz & Katie Gleason, quarterfinalists

Oct. 22 – Baldwin HS

3rd place, Sweepstakes Award

4th place, Open Division, Hunter Castillo & Alex Heckman, 4-1 win/loss, 21 speaker points

8th place, Open Division, Violet Belt & Andrew Noline, 3-2 win/loss, 21 speaker points

Oct. 22 – Piper HS

2nd place, Sweepstakes Award

2nd place, Open Division, Vera Petrovic & Abbie Treff, 5-0 win/loss, 19 speaker points

7th place, JV Division, Haley Alt & Anna D’Ercole