By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
THREE local students have kept their cool and debated their way to a championship win.
Bella Barthelson, Paige Formaran and Bethanie Studd are in Year 8 at St Francis Xavier College’s Officer Campus.
In their first year of debating, the team has won the debating championship in the Southern Independent Schools competition, or SIS.
Their first debate was held on 29 July at St Paul’s College, where the girls won both their prepared and secret topics.
The team next competed at St John Paul College on 26 August. They again won their prepared debate, making it through to the semi-finals, held on 10 September at Woodleigh.
A two-point win secured them a spot in the grand final. After an exceptional performance, they defeated Woodleigh by one point to claim the title.
St Francis Xavier College debating coach Leesa Gordon said she was proud of the girls’ efforts.
“No matter what topic they were given, they were able to research, write and deliver articulate speeches, rebut the arguments of the opposing teams and convince the adjudicators that their ideas were logical and realistic,” she said.
“Their debating skills have strengthened through SIS competition and it was a pleasure to coach them.”
