Congratulations to the Trackside Debate Club for bringing home first place for Open Teams at the CT Middle School Debate League tournament on Saturday, Feb. 8.
In addition to placing first out of 40 teams competing in Open Team, team members also placed in the top two in open level individual speakers (out of 120 participants, and top two in novice (out of 180 people).
Wilton debater Anaya Uttamchandani was the highest scoring speaker of the day.
The team, led by Wilton High School sophomores Varsha Arun, Olivia Durden and Ishanvi Jaiswal, celebrated the victory at its weekly meeting at Trackside.
Team members proudly showed off their award while hunting to find just the right spot inside Trackside to display it, joking that they needed to hang it somewhere where there would be room for more.
According to Trackside officials, the team’s sense of accomplishment feels extra special and the celebration even more meaningful because many months ago this club was at risk for extinction until three bright and determined WHS sophomores jumped into action, determined to keep this club running.
The Trackside team had originated as the Middlebrook Debate Team and had thrived for years under the guidance of two teachers, Michael Panoli and Mary Kathlyn Durkin. But in the spring of 2024, the club struggled to find a teacher to serve as its leader.
WHS students Arun, Durden and Jaiswal had been volunteering with the MB Debate Team and were unwilling to see this club languish. So they turned to Trackside.
After many meetings with Trackside Head of Programming John Priest, and getting the go-ahead from Middlebrook, the Trackside Debate Club launched in the Fall of 2024 with more than 30 students.
The high school leaders used what they had been taught at the middleschool level to develop instructional materials, games and activities. They organized the middle school students into debate teams and corresponded with state-level administrators to register the Middlebrook Debate Team at Trackside for competitions.
“It was clear from the first meeting that they were passionate about the club and eager to have Trackside do what we do best, bring the ideas of teens to life,” Priest said. “These high school leaders essentially took on the role of a seasoned, adult teacher and, as high school students, coached the kids to a state-level championship.”
Priest said that the model of high school students leading and mentoring younger kids has flourished since Trackside implemented it.
“I often describe Trackside as a blank canvas for teens to design and create passion projects, fertile ground to grow ideas and leaders. This debate club is a perfect example and I couldn’t be prouder of these high school leaders,” he said.
An important request from these leaders was to set registration fees in a similar range to the cost parents are used to paying for a Middlebrook club at MB in order to keep the price point affordable. While registration in typical clubs at Trackside run in the $200 range, Trackside officials said the teen center would “happily honor” the leaders’ ask by offering a fee to take part in debate club at $50.
“Trackside is fortunate to have a strong community of heartfelt donors who allow us to be able to support our teens in this way,” Trackside Director Lori Fields said. “We pride ourselves on being a path to yes, especially when teens come knocking.”
Fields recalled listening to the three teen leaders as they pitched their debate club program and fees.
“I can recall sitting around our tall rectangular table in the middle of the cafe, which is where all our great brainstorming and planning sessions happen, and listening to these girls share their story and their ‘ask’ of Trackside,” Fields said. “‘Wow,’ I thought to myself. ‘These girls are so smart, persuasive, passionate and determined. I hope they rule the world someday.’ It’s incredibly inspiring to watch them mentor the middle school students each week.”
The Debate Club meets weekly at Trackside and engages in activities that focus on improving argumentation, public speaking skills and logic through research on global affairs. Participants practice crafting an argument, learn how to navigate opposing perspectives and hold mock debates. It’s a lively, fun, passionate group.
The team’s next Championship Tournament is scheduled for early April.
Learn more about Debate Club at Trackside online.