Skyline High School accepts their Team Spirit Award, on stage, at the Mission High School Tournament.

On November 14, the Bay Area Urban Debate League (BAUDL) reached two major milestones.  For the first time in its existence, BAUDL hosted a tournament in the city of San Francisco – a feat made possible by our tournament site, Mission High School, by our new partnership with the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), and by the enthusiasm of our Oakland-based debaters in crossing the Bay Bridge to compete.  Most importantly, driven by the passion of BAUDL coaches and students, the tournament accommodated 90 students – the most in BAUDL history.  The 45 teams representing 11 schools and more than a half-dozen coaches were a true testament to the growth, commitment, and talent of BAUDL debaters.

As the sun set over the Mission District in San Francisco, the heat and fervor of a BAUDL Varity Division final round entered the historic halls of Mission High School.  Amidst the classical architecture of Mission High School’s auditorium, Cal Prep’s William Hampton Bruce and Carlene Ervin (Cal Prep BR) and Skyline High School’s Kayla Wheatfall and Rashid Campbell (Skyline WC) took the stage to argue health care politics, welfare reform, and policy oriented military implications.  After a round where current events, statistical references, and intelligent argumentation wowed a full audience of BAUDL debaters and community members, Cal Prep’s William Hampton Bruce and Carlene Ervin (Cal Prep BR) were voted champions.  Highlighting the talent of BAUDL varsity debaters were fellow perfect record holders Briana Martinez and Natassija Jordan (Cal Prep MJ) of Cal Prep, Skyline’s Zach Seidl and Greg Belvin (Skyline SB), Emiliano Zapata Street Academy’s Delona Jacobs and Wyllene Turner (Street JT) and the Fremont Federation of High Schools’ Juan Ramos and Jazmin Garcia (Fremont RG).  Cal Prep’s Natassija Jordan (Cal Prep MJ), no stranger to the award, once again captured the Varsity Top Speaker award, while Greg Belvin (Skyline SB), Kayla Wheatfall (Skyline WC), Wyllene Turner (Street JT), Miranda Pettiford (Balboa PK) offered tough competition as the top five speakers of the tournament’s Varsity Division.

With perfect 3-0 records, Skyline’s Santiago Madden and Tim Zheng (Skyline MZ) were the first place champions of the Novice Division, leading a rich, gifted field of 68 debaters.  Following close behind, separated by mere speaker points were fellow teammates Marcus Bartley and Channon May-Brooks (Skyline BM).  Other teams representing in full force with flawless record victories were Cal Prep’s Yami Mchombo and Sania Mahmoud (Cal Prep MM) and Aalijah Harrison and Jamiah Sanders (Cal Prep HS) as well as Skyline’s Maya Juergens and Kira Turnball (Skyline JT) and Charnaye McCowan and Aniese Simmons (Skyline MS).  Rounding out the top ten and highlighting the power of hybrid duos were Bonita Tindle and Lucius Potter (FreEx PT), respectively of EXCEL Academy and the Fremont Federation of High Schools.  Finally, the Novice Division showcased an array of talented speakers and debate styles.  Among them were first place top speaker, Kahlil Whitaker (Skyline SW), Skyline High School debater and brother of 2009 BAUDL National Qualifier, Mya Whitaker.  Continuing Skyline’s excellence in the Novice Division were second through fifth place speakers Pierre Sagna (Skyline SW), Channon May-Brooks (Skyline BM), Kira Turnball (Skyline BM), and Santiago Madden (Skyline MZ).

The excitement of the Mission High School tournament continues in the East Bay on December 12 and 13 where the top two teams in the Varsity Division compete for a chance to represent the Bay Area in New York City – and the title of BAUDL National Qualifiers.  We hope to see you there!

Click here to see the top teams in the Varsity and Novice Divisions!

In this series, we spotlight great debaters of BAUDL’s past and present. Today, we offer the inspiring profile of Mya Whitaker, 2009 City League Champion and National Qualifier from Oakland’s Skyline High School.

Skyline High debater and city champion Mya Whitaker in action, 2009

Mya Whitaker’s first trip to Chicago was not for a visit to the Sears Tower or the Field Museum. Mya traveled 1,500 miles from her Oakland home for the critiques, mountains of evidence, and ballots. This 2009 graduate of Skyline High School experienced the Windy City from the seat of a desk, to the beeping of a timer, and in front of her cheering family – as a debater in the prestigious Chase Urban Debate National Championship. National qualification was not just an incredible accomplishment for Mya, but the turning point in Mya’s high school career. “My friends kind of fell off during their senior years be it drugs or pregnancy,” Mya recalls. “Even when my best friend passed, I stuck to debate and didn’t let things faze me.” Debate, Mya explains, was “the tunnel vision I needed.”

Continue reading ‘Spotlight: Mya Whitaker’

Street Academy co-captain and 2009 BAUDL National Qualifier Jessica Winsey in action.

Former Street Academy Debater and 2009 BAUDL National Qualifier, Jessica Winsey, has words of advice for debaters who will participate in the upcoming tournament on November 14 at Mission High School.  Winsey held one of the best records in the League last year and won titles at some of BAUDL’s toughest debate tournament’s – take in her wisdom:

1. Call your partners for extra practice. Just because there is no practice at school doesn’t mean you need to stop.
2. Have someone quiz you on points of your argument and quiz your partner too. This helps avoid any misunderstandings that could occur in a debate round.
3. Go to bed with debate being the last image in your head wake up with it too. Basically study whenever possible. This works when judges need to make sure you understand what you are reading and you can put it in your own words.
4. Have confidence, everyone believes in you but it doesn’t help if you don’t. Pump yourself up with reassuring yourself that you know your stuff…..guess what…YOU DO!!
5. Have fun!!! If anything walk away from a tournament knowing you had fun!

We hope to see you on November 14 at Mission High School!

November has arrived – a sign of both the holiday season and a series of exciting events hosted by BAUDL for our talented debaters:

• On November 7, BAUDL will be hosting its second debate workshop centered on in-round strategies and the 2009-2010 resolution.  To best fit the needs of our teams on both sides of the Bay Bridge, we will be holding both an Oakland-based and San Francisco-based workshop.  The workshops will be taking place from 9-3 at Street Academy (417 29th Street) in Oakland and at Downtown High School (693 Vermont Street) in San Francisco. We hope to see you there!
• On November 14, the second tournament of season will be held at Mission High School (3750 18th Street) in San Francisco. This tournament is exciting on many levels!  First, it is an opportunity for our teams to try out new strategies learned from both the workshops and first tournament experiences.  Furthermore, it is the first time that a San Francisco school will host a tournament!  We’ll see you in San Francisco!

If you are interested in attending the tournament, observing incredible debates, or judging, please contact BAUDL Program Coordinator, Jen Nguyen at jennifernguyen@baudl.org.