CX Debate State Meet celebrates the centennial anniversary
By Jana Riggins | Wednesday, April 28, 2010 9:50 AM
Director Jana Riggins opens the CX Debate State Meet.
UIL is 100 years old. In March, the Cross-Examination Debate State Meet was the actual 100th state competition the University Interscholastic League has sponsored. UIL held its first contest with 10 debate teams, each representing one of the 10 districts in the state. Now, 32 districts in five conferences vie for the state crown.
The Centennial Tournament was a blend of the old and the new, as tradition met change.
The first change was the location of the tournament. Since 1991, the University Teaching Center on the UT campus has been the state venue. However, renovations in that building forced the League to find a new location. Welch Hall has the second largest assembly room on the Austin campus, so we reserved it. The auditorium proved a little tight during the 1A, 2A and 3A tournament, but the wide-open hallways with seating adjacent to the assembly room gave a nice gathering place between rounds, as well as an area to distribute pairings.
Another change was that Dr. Rich Edwards was unable to join the tab staff this year. Since 1991, the Baylor University professor has served as Tab Room Director for the 4A-5A tournament. He also developed the software that enables UIL to administer the enormous tournament. His colleague, former Baylor debate coach Dr. Karla Leeper, ably stepped into his role and administered the contest professionally and efficiently. Dr. Leeper is past-president of the American Forensic Association, former chair of Baylor’s Communication Studies Department and director of the Baylor Debater’s summer institute. She also ran the speaking events for the 5A regional meet held in Waco. She now serves as Chief of Staff to Baylor’s president.
Wayne Kraemer, Director of Forensics at Texas State University, served as Tab Room Director for the 1A-3A tournament. Kraemer, who serves as UIL debate consultant throughout the year, and Leeper were joined by Bill Schuetz, Janice Caldwell, Randy Ellis, Cindi Havron, Russell Kirkscey, Larry McCarty and Tim Cook who served as contest officials. The judging pool for the tournament included former state champions.
Traditions were celebrated in grand style at the centennial meet. Participants and coaches received a beautiful commemorate. We traced the historical legacy of State 100 with its content, and David Trussell developed the design which included a historical timeline, archival photos from the past and stories submitted by current coaches, students and former UIL participants.
Using information and artifacts collected by the academic staff, Luis Muñoz, the theatre director, designed a museum-type display uniquely telling the history of the UIL academic program. Artifacts included engraved loving cups that were once awarded to winning schools. These distinctive loving cups were traveling trophies that schools could keep only as long as they were the reigning champions.
At the awards assembly we showed a video of student participants sharing the impact of being involved in UIL activities. The awards ceremony brought excitement as winners were draped with medals designed to commemorate the 100th birthday of the League. Die-cast only during the 2009-2010 centennial competitive year, the centennial medals are like no other UIL medal has been or will be again, something for every champion to treasure.
A book written to commemorate the history of the University Interscholastic League was also available for purchase. Authored by former Academic Director Bobby Hawthorne, the book traces the indelible mark the organization has left on Texas school students and the nation during its century of existence. Two special patches, along with a centennial lapel pin, were also sold. All of these centennial items will be available at the Academic State Meet in May as well.
Congratulations to all the centennial state-qualifiers and the five centennial champions: Conference 1A – Jamie Hill and Haley King, Fort Davis HS, coached by Sara Pittman; Conference 2A – Duncan Hall and Megan Mumford, Lago Vista HS, coached by Eric Holt; Conference 3A – Kyle Lastovica and Chris Leonardi, Smithville HS, coached by Ken Johnson; Conference 4A – Neil McCray and Taylor Wilhite , Hallsville HS, coached by Racy Grant (Hallsville debaters closed out finals); Kevin Clarke and Faraz Hermani, Ford Bend Dulles HS, coached by Anthony Yim. For complete results, see the UIL Web site.
We look forward to another century of UIL policy debate, the contest that inaugurated the University Interscholastic League. It, along with the other academic, music and athletic contests, has made UIL 100 years strong!