Oak Park High School students recently showcased their debate prowess on the national stage at the Tournament of Champions in Kentucky on April 20th.

“It was nice to have this place where different kids from speech and debate from around the country could interact,” junior Addie Vanden Hengel said. “We each know our speeches and debates and it was cool to see a community of these people who are really, really dedicated to this”. 

TOC, held in Lexington, Kentucky, is one of the most prestigious debate competitions in the nation. It brings together top debaters from high schools around the United States to compete in various debate and speech formats. 

“Tournament of Champions is more prestigious in the community because the qualifying process is a lot more selective,” junior Lincoln Reyes said. “At TOC, you need two ‘bids’ to be able to go to qualify. You can get these by placing high enough at certain tournaments throughout the year”. 

Each member of the team participated in a different event. 

“I did something called dual interpretation which is a 10- minute play or piece of literature that has been cut to fit the requirement and you act out what happens,” Vanden Hengel said.

 With months of preparation behind them, these students embarked on a journey to test their skills against peers from across the country. 

“Being around a group of the best people who were all competing against each other and spent all year qualifying to be there but still with common interests was a great place to be,” Reyes said. 

As they return home, they reflect not only on experiences but also on the invaluable lessons that they’ve acquired. 

“The great part about speech and debate is that there’s lots to learn and try,” Reyes said. “As long as you like what you’re doing, it really doesn’t feel like work.”