At the first all-day debate tournament, the Shores team dominated the East Kentwood Invitational, otherwise known as “Debate Day” on Sept. 28.

“It wasn’t very useful for Shores,” said varsity debator Morgan Schwing, a junior. “It was more helpful for novices because they were able to see how things go at tournaments.”

           
The debate team argued the “NEG,” or opposing argument of this year’s debate topic -- the United States' increasing exploration and development beyond Earth’s mesosphere -- and succeeded.

           
Schwing and fellow varsity debator Zach Drabcyzk started the Shores team on a great note after winning the “demo debate,” which helped educate the novice debators further.

           
“It was a good learning experience for the novices,” said Drabcyzk, who took the informal title of “First Speaker” at the tournament.

           
Proving their “boat load of research,” according to Drabcyzk, is paying off, and he added that the debate team hopes to continue their success at their next tournament in two weeks at Wayne State University.

           
“The tournament was very informative for the participants,” debate coach Brent Green said. “It brought coaches, and debators alike, together in the West Michigan debate community.”