Vermilion student finishes second at national debate competition

VERMILION — Vermilion High School's debate team extended its exciting national competition run another year. Senior Liberty Oliver and her Cleveland teammates captured a runner-up finish in the World Schools Debate category during the virtual National Speech and Debate Tournament the week of June 14-20. Oliver and her teammates Ria Raj, Laurel School; Zayne El-Kaissi, Hawken School and Cayla See, Gilmore Academy debated a Texas team about whether national governments, not state governments, should lead the response to pandemics. The World Schools debate category focuses on what school standards should be across the globe. "It was almost overwhelming to find my team back at the final stage," Oliver said. "Oddly enough, my team was very close and worked together well to continue moving through rounds (even though) we never had the chance to meet as a team in-person." Vermilion team advisor Devon Snook said he's impressed with how Oliver and her Cleveland teammates finished. Oliver is now the most successful speech and debate student in Vermilion's history. "I never know how the World Schools teams will do at nationals, especially with everything being virtual," he said. "For a team of four students, who have never met in-person, to take second internationally is truly an amazing accomplishment. They lost to an impressive Texas team that has competed together for five years." Snook is also proud of how Vermilion finished overall. Patrick Anders, Vermilion's first freshman to qualify for the national competition, finished seventh and Ethan Thomas placed eighth in Congressional debate. Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com and follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood