Debate Team Earns National Recognition at Alabama Conference

Don't get in an argument with any members of the Stow-Munroe Falls High School Speech and Debate Team — unless you're not worried about losing.

Eight members of the team traveled to Alabama recently for the National Forensics League debate tournament and placed among the top finishers out of more than 200 qualifiers from across the nation.

The team sent seniors Theresa Liebhart, Chris Browne, Anthony Erhardt, Jimmy Miller and Shelby Denton along with juniors Mitchell Felan, Ali Herman and Dani Herman to the national tournament last month.

The students competed from June 16 through June 21 along with approximately 260 other qualifiers from across the nation in their respective events.

Theresa Liebhart was a semifinalist in Dramatic Interpretation and received 14th place out of 257 qualifiers.

The team of Browne and Erhardt placed among the top 97 of the 277 Public Forum debaters. Also in Public Forum debate, the team of Herman and Herman received 11th place along with a $2000 scholarship and an automatic invitation to next year’s tournament in Kansas City, KS.

Because the outstanding performances, Stow's team received the distinct honor of being named a School of Excellence in Debate.

Local businesses and organizations that helped the team get to the conference in Alabama included: donated are: Hair Creations Salon on Norton Rd. Chipotle, Handel's, Kobelco Corp of Hudson, Sweet Frog, Oregon Plaza Florists, Stow-Munroe Falls PTA, and the Stow Teachers Association.