The debate team won several awards at a tournament at the University of Southern California March 1-3.
Cameron Cohen ’16 cleared the varsity preliminary rounds undefeated, as did Chasia Jeffries ’17 in the junior varsity division. Annie Kors ’14, Nick Steele ’16 and Shelby Heitner ’14 also advanced to the varsity elimination rounds.

Cohen lost in quarterfinals; Heitner lost in semifinals. Jeffries also lost in JV semifinals.

Kors won the first speaker award, Cohen won fifth, Heitner won 10th, Noah Simon ’17 won 15th and Steele won 16th.

Debaters also competed at Harvard University and University of California, Berkeley the weekend of Feb. 15.

Kors was the only Harvard participant, advancing to octafinals and winning sixth speaker.

At Berkeley, Julie Engel ’14, Michael O’Krent ’14, William Gingold ’14 and Heitner all qualified for elimination rounds. Heitner and O’Krent advanced to double octafinals, winning third and 14th speaker respectively.

“We have only the National Championships left, which makes now an exciting time,” O’Krent said.