The MPHS Speech and Debate team hosted a Texas Forensics Association Individual Qualifying tournament on Saturday, November 16. The tournament featured competitors from fourteen schools including some 6A programs from the Dallas area. Several 8th and 9th grade members of MPJH and MPHS Speech and Debate competed in the Novice division and three earned medals at the tournament.

Freshman Eric Taylor won the Novice Lincoln Douglas debate championship, outlasting 14 other competitors in the category. Taylor is in his first year of high school debate competition and this was his first time to medal.

The eighth-grade team of Sidney Beles and Sophie Greco made it to the final four of Novice Cross-Examination debate and earned semifinalist medals. They were defeated in the semifinal round by the eventual novice champions. It was their first high school level competition featuring teams from other schools. Beles and Greco won the interschool novice tournament earlier this year.

MP Speech and Debate is coached by Cody Morris.

Photos:
MP Debate novices (left to right): Sidney Beles, Sophie Greco, Eric Taylor