Hornet Nation is abuzz with wonderful news! Athens High School juniors Cooper Rich (left) and Isaac Hoch clinched the UIL Conference 4A Cross Examination (CX) state championship in Austin on March 16! Their accomplishment is a culmination of many months of intense focus.
This monumental victory marks Athens ISD's FIFTH state championship in this event within the past decade. What a legacy!
In addition, Isaac was awarded the Silver Gavel Speaker award, and Cooper clinched the Bronze Gavel Speaker award.
“Their hard work and dedication this year is like nothing I’ve ever seen,” said AHS Debate Coach Will Honea.
Cross-examination debate uses a team format, with two debaters on each team arguing a position (affirmative or negative) on a resolution. A panel of judges evaluates the debate based on criteria such as argumentation, evidence quality, speaking skills and strategy, and then determines which team performed better. In the final round of the state tournament, Cooper and Isaac negated the following resolution: The United States federal government should substantially increase fiscal redistribution in the United States by adopting a federal jobs guarantee, expanding Social Security, and/or providing a basic income.
We are so proud of them!