DAMIEN WINS NATIONAL DEBATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Please join the law firm of SHERNOFF BIDART DARRAS ECHEVERRIA, LLP in honoring the Damien High School debate team for winning the 2009 National Championship.
Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009 6:00 PM 600 S. Indian Hill Boulevard
Claremont, CA 91711 RSVP to: [email protected]
Damien High School debaters Sean Hernandez and Reid Ehrlich-Quinn took first place in policy debate at the National Speech and Debate Tournament, sponsored by the National Forensic League, in Birmingham, Alabama, June 19. The duo defeated a team from James Logan High School of Union City, California, in the championship debate, which was held at the Birmingham Convention Center in front of an audience of several hundred competitors and coaches. Two-hundred debate teams from throughout the nation began competition on Monday, June 15. After 15 rounds of competition, spread over 4 days, 2 teams remained. The 2009 tournament marked the first time in the 71 year history of the event that 2 California teams had met for the championship. Damien is the first Southern California high school since 1973 to win the championship in policy debate.
Damien’s achievement has already been celebrated throughout Southern California. Reid, Sean, and their coaches have attended public commendations from the LA County Board of Supervisors, as well as the City Councils of Claremont and La Verne. Their national title is the culmination of a three-year run in which Damien has emerged as the country’s dominant debate powerhouse.
It was the only squad in the nation to qualify ten debaters to the Tournament of Champions. We look forward to congratulating them at the reception, and hope to see you there.
SHERNOFF BIDART DARRAS ECHEVERRIA, LLP
ForReid,excellentdebateskillsruninthefamily.Hisolderbrother,Clinton,wasrankedamongthenation’stopdebatersin2007.Andtheirfather,Jeffrey,wasatwo-timestatefinalistwhowouldgoontoargueandwinintheUnitedStatesandCaliforniaSupremeCourt.
Allfourdebatersgavetouchingthankyou’sbeforetheirconstructivespeeches.Seanwashilariousbutrestrained,aswasappropriateforthevenue.
ReidandSeanwerewellpreparedforthegruelingcompetitionbytheircoaches:ChuckBallingall,JustinSkarb,ChasePatterson,ClintonEhrlich-Quinn,andNicholasFiori.
DamienhadtheunenviabletaskofnegatingagainstanewaffirmativeinthefinalroundofNFLNationals.Heretheyare,huddlingwiththeircoachesinthefinalmomentsofpreparation.
