West Boca’s Debate team has notably seen rapid success in such a short time. The debate program has significantly grown since last year, and there are now 70 members. Under the coaching and instruction of Mr. Weaver, this group has made huge accomplishments through countless hours of preparation and hard work! Some of the most notable places that our debate team has visited include, but are not limited to, Harvard, Yale, and are expected to go to UF and possibly Phoenix later this year. The team has gone to a variety of places for tournaments, both near and far!
The team meets every Wednesday from 2:45 to 5:30, but every individual member’s prep requires a daily commitment. The nonstop dedication has clearly seen its breakthrough, considering that our team has ended up at some of the most competitive competitions in the nation, going against some of the most talented teams in the country! This is seen in more national competitions, which are highly competitive and push all students to be the best they can be.
David Hain, the president of West Boca’s debate team, has placed a priority on not just his own success through debate, but also on the achievements of the rest of the team. David noted how debate has been “incredibly rewarding” and he has learned three major takeaways from debate that he feels can be found nowhere else:
- Doing high school speech and debate is an incredible educational resource that tests your skillset and forces you to think, a skill that will last a lifetime.
- It will highly benefit your public speaking. Doing speech and debate forces you to carry yourself confidently with the way you use words and language.
- The connections that the team has made with each other are unlike any other. Debate has allowed David and the rest of his teammates to get along with a “unique and incredible” community that uplifts each other to make speaking in front of others not just easier, but more enjoyable too.
David Hain also dedicates his successes to Dylan Gaynor, his mentor, who recently graduated from West Boca and had various successes in the debate team as well. Dylan worked with David weekly, helping him review speeches and influencing others to put in work towards the team very often. David described Dylan to be a “constant force of belief and passion for what he did”, seeing how he worked day and night for what he did. So, David hopes to set the same example for the team that Dylan set for him and many others.
Here at the West Boca Bullseye, we can’t wait to see what major successes the debate team will have this year. They have set various milestones including being national finalists, competing in the most prestigious schools in the country, and much more. We do not doubt that their hard work, talent, and dedication will all pay off.
