Debate Team Wins 2017 Wisconsin State Championship
William Deverey '18 and Gavin Paap '18 debated Homestead in the Varsity Policy Finals winning on a 5-0
decision to clinch the 2017 Wisconsin State Debate Championship. Seventeen students qualified to
compete at the tournament in three divisions - Varsity Policy, Novice Policy, and Lincoln Douglas.
The Debate Team set multiple records for the State Tournament, Jan. 21-22 in West Bend, where it
competed with one of the largest groups of students the team has fielded in the last 10 years. The win
caps off a dominant performance at the tournament, giving the MUHS Debate team three consecutive
State Championships and seven in the last 10 years.
Team Results:
In Novice Policy debate, Daniel Meyer '20, Austin Keller '20, Kevin Teye '20 and Alex Pienkos
'20 competed against the best new talent in the State of Wisconsin. Although the students did not reach
the elimination rounds this season, the team of Teye and Pienkos were one ballot away. Pienkos '20 was
also the 15th overall speaker at the tournament.
In Lincoln Douglas debate, Daniel Mukana '20 and Sam Larson '20 competed to defend the 2016 State
Championship won by Harrison Lucas '17 in the previous season. After competing rather successfully
against stiff competition of a national caliber, Daniel Mukana '20 advanced to elimination rounds but
was defeated in Octofinals of the tournament as one of the top 16 competitors in the State.
In Varsity Policy debate, which consisted of a record-setting five partnerships, MUHS competed
with William Deverey '18, Gavin Paap '18, Harrison Lucas '17, Anders Sundheim '18, Bernard Medeiros
'20, Brett Walsh '18, Joseph Tierney V '19, Souleymane Drame '18, Nick Wieber '18 and Pat Lodes '18.
Individual awards of note include Harrison Lucas as the 13th overall speaker, William Deverey as the 9th
overall speaker and Gavin Paap as the Top Speaker overall at the tournament. Paap's Top Speaker award
is the team's first since the 2012 season.
Ultimately, Deverey '18 and Paap '18 were the only debaters in this division to reach elimination rounds
but proved to be formidable opponents to each team they debated winning every ballot possible at the
tournament. Deverey's and Paap's perfect 17 out of 17 ballots at the tournament is an impressive feat
and has not been done since 2012. Deverey and Paap's win also stands out as they are the first team
without at least one senior to win the tournament since 2011 and they pushed MUHS to winning State
in policy 2 out of the last 3 years and 6 out of the last 10 years.