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West Jordan Journal

Grizzly Debate Team Takes Top Honors

Nov 14, 2014 02:08PM ● By Marci Heugly

Copper Hills students celebrate their first-place victory at a recent debate tournament. Photo courtesy of Heidi Leggat

Debate teams from 12 Utah schools met at Cyprus High School on Oct. 10-11 to debate their way to the top. The Pirate Pete’s Locker Tournament was a prime opportunity for Copper Hills students to make a name for themselves, which they did by taking home first place overall.

“One student stood above the rest: Andres Uscategui entered in three different events and placed in all of them,” said Scott Odekirk, Copper Hills debate coach. “Andres took fourth in varsity impromptu speaking, fourth in varsity extemporaneous speaking, and in varsity Lincoln-Douglas debate he took first with an undefeated record.”

Nineteen Copper Hills students placed in various events during the two-day tournament.

“To win, Copper Hills High School earned the most overall points across 12 different events,” Odekirk said. “This was a total team effort, and the debate team prepared hard to defend their Cyprus title from last year.”

Andrea Aviles took first place in the varsity oratory debate and Andrea Feliciano took first in novice impromptu speaking, with several other students coming in the top four in their events.

“The Copper Hills debate team has opened their season with pride, but they won’t stop until they are the best team in the universe,” Odekirk said.