Rochester Century High School Athletics

All announcements and schedule changes should be followed in the Century Debate Classroom.  To join please use code: kxzpgk6 and the link to the classroom is here:  https://classroom.google.com/u/2/c/NDU3NTMwMzQ3NzQ0

Coach Boston is an award winning High School and Collegiate Speech and Debate Competitor.  Her collegiate team was at one time ranked 9th in the Nation as part of the Kearney State College Debate Team.  She has competed in both Public Address and Dramatic Interpretation Events including Poetry, Drama, Duo, Great Speeches, Storytelling, Extemporaneous Speaking, Group Poetry, One Act Plays, Theatre, Musical Theatre.  She also competed in The Voice of Democracy and was Captain of the Debate and Speech Teams in College.  She was Student Body Vice President, Student Lobbyist and later went on to become an Attorney (Member of the Minnesota State Bar).   In 2014, she formed the award winning Speech and Debate Team for Math and Science Academy in Woodbury before she moved to Rochester to become the Chief Customer Relations Officer for City of Rochester's - Rochester Public Utilities.  Upon leaving that position to care for her elderly mother, she is now substitute teaching, continues as a Senior Community Faculty teaching instructional design and organizational change management at Metropolitan State University and served as the Head Speech Coach at Century for three years taking state qualifiers all three years.  She has now pivoted to Head Coach of Mock Trial in addition to Debate. She is a proud member of the Blue Star Mothers (Navy Mom) and was the 2024 Salvation Army Advisory Board Chair.  She is currently chair of Impact Health, The Gambia which drop ships medical supports in to the four hospitals in The Gambia.

Each fall season, the Classic Debate League has two topics.  The first is chosen in August by the Coaches.  The second is voted upon by the students/teams and will be debated the second part of the season through the State Championship Tournament.

The first topic for the 2025 season has been announced: (debaters should immediately start researching evidence and drafting case plans upon announcement):

2025 Season

Topic 1:   Resolved: Minnesota should legalize sports gambling.

Topic 2: Voted upon after third tournament

___________________________________________________________

PAST TOPICS

Topics for the 2024 Fall Season were:

Topic 1. Resolved: The US federal government should make and enforce a binding commitment to achieving net carbon neutrality for the United States by 2050.

Topic 2: Resolve:  On balance, NATO’s policy of commitment to Ukrainian membership is beneficial. 

Topics for the 2023 Fall Season were:

Topic 1 Resolved: Resolved: The use and possession for personal use of all drugs should be decriminalized for adults in the United States.

Topic 2 Resolved:  The US federal government should break up Big Tech companies by strengthening and enforcing antitrust legislation.

Topics for the 2022 Fall Season were:

Topic 1 Resolved:  Standardized test scores should not be used as a factor in undergraduate college admissions. 

Topic 2 Resolved: 

Topics for the 2021 Fall Season were:

Topic 1: Resolved:  The United States Constitution should be amended to limit the term for future US Supreme Court justices to 18 years.

TOPIC GUIDANCE from the LEAGUE:  The focus of the debate should not be on the exact length of the term limits nor the exact process of implementation.  The focus of the debate should be on the merits of term limits for the Supreme Court. 

Topic 2:  Resolved: On balance, the AUKUS security pact will advance United States’ interests.

How It Works:

First as a new debater we'd like to see you at the orientation meeting on September 3rd for new member/parents at 6:00 at the high school (room D129: The classroom code is kxzpgk6  Please join that as soon as you decide to register for the activity.

If you'd like to join debate email the coach or captains and we'll connect you to the right people to get in the loop - this activity is joined and paid for like any other - contact the activities office for more information.  Meetings are scheduled for Mondays (mandatory with Coach) and Wednesdays (Captains practice) from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.  

Parent Training for judging will take place on September 15th.  All parents should try to attend to learn how to judge.

Are you returning and wish you could start preparing now?  The coach recommends you start gathering evidence about Topic 1 which was announced on August 12th to the classroom.  Or feel free to write up an aff. or neg. case for review by the captains - Debate is 9/10ths preparation!

More information for new debaters:  Debate tournaments are held each Saturday from October to December, with a break on MEA weekend and Thanksgiving weekend.  

Most of the 7 tournaments are held out of town except two which are online but the students will be at century for these debates ...in a classroom.  For traveling tournaments - Buses typically depart around 6 AM on the scheduled Saturday and return to Century usually before 6 PM.  Debaters MUST ride the bus.  Volunteer parent judges must pass a background check and can ride the bus or meet the team at the school and drive themselves.  The State Classic League Debate Tournament - which is held at Two Rivers Highschool in Mendota Heights - is the first weekend of December and students will stay overnight at a hotel and those costs are required to be covered by the student/family.  The season ends and banquet is held, wrapping everything up.

The Classic League Debate Format:  Students debate with a partner in 4 rounds per tournament, each round lasting approximately 1 hour. The team defends the resolution (arguing the affirmative) in two rounds, and negates the resolution (arguing the negative) in two rounds. Judges score each round, assigning points for effective argumentation, adherence to procedure, and speaker performance. Team and individual rankings are established, and winners are recognized at an awards ceremony at the conclusion of each tournament.  All students start in Novice and progress each year to Junior Varsity and eventually Varsity depending on performance and skill.  The coach decides how and when a student advances - a student does not decide this.  The coach considers the recommendations of the Captains in that regard.  Parents are expected to commit time to judge and are trained to do so.  This is a requirement to keep fees low for this activity.

The fall schedule is on process and this is it so far. 

Topic 1 - First Resolution:  Minnesota should legalize sports gambling.

Topic 2 - will be decided by the schools through a voting process directly after the third tournament.

2025 Classic Debate League Schedule

Sept 27th – Topic 1 Tournament

• Eastview

· Oct 4th – Topic 1 Tournament

• Online

· Oct 11th – Topic 1 Tournament – Mankato East

· MEA BREAK

· Nov 8th – Topic 2 Tournament – South Saint Paul

· Nov 15th – Topic 2 Tournament – Stillwater

· Nov 22th – Topic 2 Tournament

• Online

· Dec 5th and 6th

• Classic State Tournament – Two Rivers

Please note:

Parent volunteers are required and will serve as judges for at least one tournament per two tournaments attended by your competitor - a season (or more please!). Training is provided. Contact Coach Krista Boston, if you're interested!  You must complete a background check with the school and you can ride the bus to the tournaments. 

Contact the Head Coach to sign up to judge and be trained.  Judges Training will be held at the school on TBD from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

2025 Classic Debate Team Awards 

2024 Classic Debate Team Awards (being updated)

Eastview Classic Debate

Minnesota Virtual Classic Debate

Mankato East Classic Debate

South St. Paul Classic Debate

Stillwater Classic Debate

Minnesota Virtual Classic Debate

State Tournament

Placing at state tournament - reserved

PRIOR YEARS

Eastview Classic Debate

Nov

Ayyanar & Hassan: 3-1

Speaker Awards: McWilliams (7th), Hassan (12th)

JV
Kadirvel & Krishnan: 3-1

Anand & Milosevic: 3-1

Speaker Awards: Anand (8th), Kazemi(16th), Krishnan (18th)

Minnesota Virtual Classic Debate

Nov

Kadiri & McWilliams: 3-1

Zhou & Nakhla: 3-1

JV
Joshi & Zhang: 3-1

Kadirvel & Krishnan: 3-1

Anand & Milosevic: 3-1

Kazemi & Gasner: 4-0

Speaker Awards: Gasner (1st), Kazemi (3rd), Kadirvel (15th), Krishnan (16th)

Mankato East Classic Debate

Nov

Ayyanar & Hassan: 3-1

Kazemi & Jayakumar: 4-0

McWilliams, Zhou & Nakhla: 4-0

Speaker Awards: Kazemi (5th), Nakhla (6th) Zhou (14th)

JV
Nov
Milosevic & Nakhla: 3-1

Speaker Award: Kadirvel (19th)

South St. Paul Classic Debate
NovB

Manivannan & Zhang: 3-1

NovA

Zhou & Nakhla: 3-1

Speaker Award: Nakhla (7th)

JV
Anand & Milosevic: 3-1
Kazemi & Gasner: 3-1

Joshi & Zhang: 3-1

Speaker Awards: Kazemi (4th), Anand (7th), Milosevic (7th)

Var Speaker Awards: Wang (7th), Wang (18th)

Stillwater Classic Debate

NovB

Manivannan & Zhang: 3-1

Speaker Awards: Manivannan (11th), Zhang (14th)

NovA
Krych, Kazemi, & Jayakumar: 3-1

Kadiri & McWilliams: 3-1
Zhang & Zhang: 3-1

Speaker Award: Kazemi (14th)

JV
Olteanu & Hill (4-0)

Kazemi & Gasner (3-1)
Anand & Milosevic (3-1)
Speaker Awards: Gasner (1st), Milosevic (2nd), Kazemi (3rd), Anand (4th), Olteanu (10th)

Minnesota Virtual Classic Debate

Nov
Speaker Awards: McWilliams (15th), Nakhla (19th)

JV
Anand & Milosevic: 3-1

Kazemi & Gasner: 3-1

Kadirvel & Hassan: 3-1

Speaker Awards: Milosevic (1st), Anand (11th), Kazemi (19th)

Var

Speaker Award: Hussein (9th)

State Tournament
Nov
Zhou & Nakhla: Octafinals
Speaker Awards: Nakhla (15th), Zhou (16th), Kazemi (33rd)

JV

Kazemi & Gasner: Semifinals
Anand & Milosevic: Octafinals
Kadirvel & Nakhla: Octafinals

Speaker Awards: Anand (4th), Gasner (20th), Hill (23rd), Milosevic (29th), Ayyanar (34th)

Century Debate took 4th as a team for the state Tournament!  Go Panthers!

2022 Season Awards

Eastview Classic Debate - 1st Tournament
Nov
Atuti & Milosevic: 4-0
Krishna & Kadirvel: 3-1

Speaker Awards
Milosevic: 2nd place, Kadirvel: 7th place, Anand: 9th place
 

JV
Hill & Hussein: 4-0

Speaker Awards Hussein: 4th place


Minnesota Virtual Classic Debate - 2nd Tournament

Nov
Gasner & Atuti: 4-0

Kazemi & Zhang: 3-1

Speaker Awards Gasner: 3rd place, Milosevic: 8th place, Anand: 9th place

Kazemi: 13th place

JV
Bartucz & Hussein: 3-1

Speaker Awards Hill: 17th place

Mankato East Classic Debate - 3rd Tournament

Nov

Kazemi & Zhang: 3-1

Anand & Zhang: 3-1

Speaker Awards

Kazemi: 4th place

Anand: 8th place

JV
Bartucz & Hussein: 4-0

Speaker Awards Hussein: 4th place

Var

Lu & Zhang: 4-0

Wang & Wang: 3-1

Speaker Awards Zhang: 4th place, Lu: 14th place, Wang: 15th place, Wang: 17th place

South St. Paul Classic Debate - 4th Tournament

Nov A

Kazemi & Gasner: 4-0
Atuti & Zhang: 3-1

Speaker Awards Kazemi: 3rd place, Gasner: 5th place, Milosevic: 13th place

Nov B
Speaker Awards
Nakhla: 15th place

JV
Hussein, Mozammel & Blegen: 3-1

Speaker Awards
Mozammel: 14th place


Stillwater Classic Debate - 5th Tournament

Nov A
Kazemi & Gasner: 4-0

Atuti & Peng: 3-1

Speaker Awards Kazemi: 1st place, Anand: 6T, Milosevic: 6T, Gasner: 11th plac, McEarchen: 15th place, Peng: 16th place

Nov B
Joshi, Zhang & Nakhla: 3-1

JV
Bartucz & Hussein: 4-0

Speaker Awards

Hussein: 18th place

Hill: 20th place

Minnesota Virtual Classic Debate - 6th Tournament

Nov A

Milosevic & Anand: 4-0

Speaker Awards Anand: 3rd place, Kadirvel: 15th place

Minnesota Classic Debate State Tournament

Nov
Armita & Anje: Quarter Finals

Karthik & Ana: Octa-Finals

Speaker Awards Anand: 12th place, Gasner: 15th place, Kazemi: 17th place

JV
Speaker Awards Hussein: 18th place

Var

Wang & Wang: 10th place

Speaker Awards Wang: 21st place, Wang: 22nd place

2024

• School Sweepstakes 5th place award - Governor's cup
• Krishna Kardival and Karthik Anand - Quarter finals Varsity
• Mia Milosevic and Zainab Iftikhar - Octo Finals Novice

2023

Novice - Zhou & Nakhla: Octafinals

Speaker Awards: Nakhla (15th), Zhou (16th), Kazemi (33rd)

Junior Varsity - Kazemi & Gasner: Semifinals
Anand & Milosevic: Octafinals
Kadirvel & Nakhla: Octafinals

Speaker Awards: Anand (4th), Gasner (20th), Hill (23rd), Milosevic (29th), Ayyanar (34th)

• School Sweepstakes 4th place award - Governor's cup

2022

• School Sweepstakes 4th place award - Governor's cup
• Armita Kazemi & Anje Gasner: Quarter Finals - JV
• Karthik Anand & Ana Milosevic: Octa-Finals - Novice

2021

• Ethan Zhang and Felix Lu placed in the top 16 by advancing to OctoFinals.

2020

• School Sweepstakes - Governor's Cup - 5th Place
• State Champions - Junior Varsity Jenny Yan and Rita Dai
• Jenny Yan - 3rd Place Speaker Award - Junior Varsity

2018

• Hemanth Asirvatham - 2nd Place Speaker Award - Junior Varsity

2017

• Hemanth Asirvatham - 4th Place Speaker Award - Novice

2016

• Kyle Hooten and Austin McCoy -  2nd Place out of 53 JV teams at the Minnesota State Debate Tournament.
• Kyle Hooten - 1st Place JV Speaker Award out of 106 debaters at the Minnesota State Debate Tournament.
• video of this debate at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqbLOEUAy5I

2014

• State Champions: Roshini Asirvathan and Ghanashyam Unnikrishnan - Novice