WUDL Returns From Tournament of Champions
Just like the road to qualify to the Tournament of Champions, the competition on site was cut-throat.
Preparation for the tournament started months ago, reviewing the basics and organizing specialized lessons to fill in some gaps and teach about arguments popular elsewhere in the country that we haven’t seen a lot on the East Coast.
Many of the larger programs hire legions of college students to help with coaching and argument preparations for the ToC, and WUDL were determined to not be out prepared. Since we drove to the University of Kentucky from D.C., it didn’t cost anything extra for us to bring additional coaching and support staff. David and Danielle from WUDL’s staff came along, joining Coach Yigletu of BASIS DC on the trip. Alumna Zara Escobar was also supposed to join us, though a sporting accident prevented her from attending. Additionally, one of David’s former students, and a former judge and coach in the early WUDL years, Aaron Torop, met us there as well. Aaron just wrapped up his rabbinical studies in Cincinnati, and will be moving to Oakland this fall, but will still remain involved in debate. Beyond the folks who were with us on site, the preparation and support for this tournament was a community effort, including alumni Liv Birnstad, Dennis Martinez, Aisha Bah, and Addie Lowenstein and former WUDL Coach Gabe Ritter and advisory board member Jonathan Gonzalez.
Upon arrival, we faced off against some of the biggest and most competitive programs in the country, including Bellarmine (San Francisco), Berkeley Prep (Tampa), Canyon Crest (San Diego), Lexington (Boston), Montgomery Bell (Nashville), Wylie Grove (Detroit), and a fellow UDL team, Kenwood, from Chicago, which won the UDNC last weekend. We heard a wide range of arguments, from up to the moment arguments about FISA and foreign aid legislation, sweeping theories of power like Settler Colonialism and the occupation of Gaza, and anti-blackness, in depth discussions of policy proposals to amendment to Social Security that would make it more sustainable, taxation alternatives to provide additional funding for the social safety net, a Green Jobs proposal akin to the Green New Deal, and many more big ideas.
BASIS CM came into this tournament determined to force conversations about neurodivergence and disability, and they achieved that, having conversations that almost never happen, either among these students, or in these spaces. Wins and losses aside, they made their presence known in the most competitive tournament held for high school students each season. By qualifying alone, hundreds of students had to do research and learn about the arguments that they’ve been making as part of their preparations.
Beyond the competition, we had some great moments of levity, including seeing some local Kentucky farm life and eating some great southern food.
I am incredibly proud of Daniella and Sitara, who showed incredible poise, confidence, and resilience. They were the youngest team in the division, and were highly competitive in every round. We learned a lot about preparation and competition at this level, and WUDL will be back soon, likely in greater numbers. On the long drive back, they came up with innovative, advanced arguments for the coming season related to intellectual property, bringing together in depth policy conversations with personal interests and experiences.
Many thanks to all of those who helped us prepare for the trip, and to the ToC Committee for giving us some financial aid to support our trip!