Wayland Debate Team Ranked at States & Wins Prestigious Award

The Wayland Debate Team competed at the Michigan Interscholastic Forensics Association State Debate Tournament on December 11, 2021, and experienced record success.   

The tournament had over 300 students from across the state competing in various styles of debate. Wayland qualified 8 students to attend the tournament; all members of the team competed in Congressional Debate. The students competed in two preliminary sessions of debate and broke to the final supersession.  Our students competed virtually from the Wayland High School Media Center.  The tournament held two divisions Novice (first-year competitors) and Varsity (two and/or plus years).

The WHS Debate Team is excited to announce that all 8 members of the team in attendance rank in the top thirty-five debaters in the state!  Novice Debaters: Alecia Alonzo finished 32nd, Dulce Galindo 26th place, Ian Clevenger 23rd place and Adaline Huston 19th  Breaking into the final round was Andrew Bastein-Burke who took 15th place!  All Varsity Debaters finished in the top 20!  Rylie Steuer (Captain) took 20th; Summer Morrison (Captain) advanced to the state finals and placed 10th, Carissa Yerxa proudly took 7th place! 

The Wayland Union Debate Team also took home the coveted “Best Bill Award.”  This highly prestigious award is voted on by the coaches and goes to the team that submitted the most debatable and well-written piece of legislation.  Coach Andrea Brown is extremely proud of her team and is looking forward to next year’s season!   

Pictured Left To Right: Back Row – Captain Summer Morrison (11th), Andrew Bastien-Burke (12th), Ian Clevenger (12th), Alecia Schumaker-Alonzo (9th). Front Row -   Carrisa Yerxa (11th), Captain Rylie Steuer (12th), Adaline Huston (9th), Dulce Galindo (9th).