Mount Pisgah Upper School launched its first-ever debate team this year, providing students an exciting opportunity to enhance their public speaking, research, and critical thinking skills. Under the guidance of Patrick Mulrennan, the team competed in a local tournament on Dec. 7.

Students argued whether the United State should reduce their involvement in Taiwan or not, however, teams did not know whether they were arguing for or against until the flip of a coin.

Sophomores Ben Plunkett and Jina Di went 4-0 and juniors Daniel Hahn and Blake Faunce went 3-1 in the competition, and both teams qualified for the quarterfinals. 

DJ Rogers and Jackson Ballard also went 3-1 in their debates.

Mulrennan believes tenacity is the most important skill for a successful debater. 

“Tenacious means a certain discipline and toughness, you have to be a good listener and watch what your opponent is saying. You should not be surprised by what your opponent asks you.”

Some goals of Mulrennan’s are to turn this club into a class. 

“A class allows more practice time and time to explore news debate formats such as 1v1 format instead of the current 2v2,” explains Mulrennan

The team is part of Mount Pisgah’s broader effort to expand extracurricular offerings. In recent years, the school has introduced many more clubs, complementing its strong athletics and arts programs.

The new initiative has generated excitement. Some see the debate team as a way to help students develop confidence and the ability to articulate their ideas clearly. With the formation of the debate team, Mount Pisgah is taking another step toward offering a well-rounded education that prepares students for success both inside and outside the classroom.