Last Friday was a momentous day for La Salle Academy who sent their Year 11 Debating team to Edmund Rice College, Wollongong to compete in the Catholic Schools Debating Final.
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The Year 11 team: Lauren Corney, Dalton Neville and Callum Woodrow contested the first round of the State Regional semi-final, arguing the affirmative case for the topic, “That we are a nation of imitators”, and narrowly defeated St Mary Star of the Sea from Wollongong.
In the afternoon, the State Regional Final was against home team Edmund Rice College.
The team was given one hour and a dictionary to prepare for the topic, “That technological progress has changed our lives for the worse”.
LSA overcame their opponent’s home ground advantage to take the title, earning themselves first place in the State Regional Competition.
The day was far from over for La Salle’s team.
After a three hour break, they had to match their wits against Sydney Metropolitan’s top team, St Dominic's College from Penrith.
Once again they had only an hour to prepare their final and crucial debate on the topic, “That we get the politicians that we deserve.”
For the first time that day, they had to argue in the negative case.
With ferocity, confidence and quick thinking, they presented their case before a panel of three adjudicators.
La Salle was awarded the debate and the title of Senior State Champions of the Catholic Schools Debating Association.
After receiving their trophies, La Salle’s debating team made their way wearily, but triumphantly back to Lithgow.
Thank you to Mrs Leighton for her good humour and driving skills, Mr Coller for his mentoring the first debate and, most importantly, Ms Crilley for coaching the team from Year 7 to this, the highest achievement in their career.
Well done to the Year 10 debating team, Paige McNamara, Jesse Fairweather and Isabella Cooke who lost at the Semi-Final level, but have a lot of potential.
