San Marcos High School Debate Team Secures Championship

The final round was about whether the United States should engage China regarding issues of cyber-security. 

San Marcos High School was crowned as the 2017 6A UIL CX Debate State Champions on Saturday, March 18, 2017, at the University of Texas in Austin. 

The team of Will Hutchinson (junior) and Hayden Gish (sophomore) defeated Winston Churchill High School in the final round to secure the championship.  Hutchinson and Gish finished their debate season with an impressive 7-1 record at the statewide competition. 

On their way to victory, the team debated schools from San Antonio, Austin, Houston, Dallas, and San Angelo.

A field of 61 teams was competing for the championship.  Teams earn their spots to compete at the state tournament by placing 1st or 2nd in their respective UIL districts.  This year’s CX debate topic was Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its economic and/or diplomatic engagement with the People’s Republic of China. 

The final round was about whether the United States should engage China regarding issues of cyber-security.  San Marcos on the negative successfully argued that the affirmative team’s policy proposal was ineffective and potentially dangerous.

The team was awarded gold medals and a plaque for their accomplishment.  Both students are also now eligible for Texas Interscholastic League Foundation (TILF) scholarships.  TILF awards more than $1 million in scholarships each year to over 600 students attending colleges and universities throughout Texas.

Hutchinson is a two-time UIL CX State qualifier and has also twice qualified for the Texas Forensic Association state tournament.  Gish was an alternate to state as a freshman, so this was his first year competing at the UIL CX State tournament.

Also competing for San Marcos High School at the tournament was the team of Sean Bryan (sophomore) and Elizabeth Contreras (senior).  It was Bryan’s second and Elizabeth’s third trip to UIL CX State.  The San Marcos High School Speech and Debate team is coached by Davy Holmes and Josh Aguilar.