BANGOR – The John Bapst Memorial High School debate team recently completed a successful season. They participated in the Maine Forensic League tournament and the National Forensic League qualifying tournament. All team members won rounds in the tournaments.

During the 2003-04 season, the John Bapst team entered competitions statewide, including those at Bates College, Lewiston High School, Deering High School and Bangor High School.

Team coach Sharon Kobritz, who teaches English and U.S. history at John Bapst, is working with several area schools to create a local league that will extend the debates season and also will help debate team members garner additional points toward their National Forensic League goals.

“The members of the Bapst debate team are incredibly dedicated,” Kobritz said. “They all participate in several co-curricular activities, get great grades and yet still want to enter more debates. They’re terrific.”

Being a debater means learning skills that can be used in the classroom. Colleges around the country are showing interest in students who are debaters, and being a member of a high school debate team can give students an edge in the college acceptance process.

“The debate team is great,” said sophomore Jordan Trundy of Eddington, a member of the debate team. “It’s fun to meet students from other schools and we’re all very competitive. We plan to win even more trophies next year.”

John Bapst debate team members in addition to Trundy are freshman Dustin Jones of Glenburn; sophomores David Jones of Orrington, Gregory Lamb of Bangor, Ashley Sanford of Holden and Michelle Yang of Milford; and senior Sandra Townsend of Orono.

Next year the John Bapst Memorial High School debate program plans to offer public forum debating in addition to Lincoln Douglas events and hopes to expand its team significantly. To learn more about the high school’s debate program, call 947-0313.