HELENA – Competing against an elite field that included Yale, Princeton, Duke, Stanford, and the University of Chicago, the Carroll College Talking Saints forensics team brought home three awards at the University of California - Berkeley tournament in San Francisco on March 8-9.
The sophomore team of Davis Thompson of East Helena and Brad Tomasovic of Great Falls beat many of the nation’s best teams in prelims, earning the third seed before dropping in quarterfinals. Thompson was the tournament’s seventh-best speaker.
The senior team of June LePage of Lewistown, Montana, and Spencer McDonald of Missoula also reached quarterfinals.
“Berkeley’s an exceptional research university with a fine debate program, so their tournament attracted the best colleges in the country,” said coach Brent Northup. “All four of our teams were competitive, and for two of them to advance to the championship rounds was an affirmation of all the work they’ve done this year. I’ve always believed Carroll’s best students are on a par with the best anywhere. This weekend confirmed that. I was very proud of them.”
For three of Carroll’s debaters – Charlie Said of Seattle, Spencer McDonald and June LePage - Berkeley was the end of their debate careers, stretching back as far as eight years, including high school and college. They enjoyed the weekend, but there was sadness, too, as they completed their final rounds.
“What an honor to compete alongside the Ivy Leagues,” said McDonald. “My final speech, in the quarterfinal round, was about how a desire to leave a legacy is what connects us. I’ve been lucky to have a team to share my passion and growth at Carroll.”
The tournament was bittersweet for Spencer’s partner, LePage, too.
“There are so many emotions that go into the last tournament: pressure to perform well, sentimental reminders of a long career, an eager edge to what awaits, and overwhelming joy in doing what you love,” said LePage.
“Spencer and I reminisced during the weekend about how it’s a privilege and honor to be part of the long tradition of competitive speaking. Spencer and I were fortunate enough to secure a spot in the quarterfinal round, which ironically was about the desire to leave a legacy.
“Talking about the desire to leave a legacy unleashed something in Spencer and me as we concluded our debate career, passionately advocating for the longevity of legacies. We are only small stories in a long tradition that I carry with great pride.”
LePage was recently admitted to medical school in the WWAMI program, so she has plenty to celebrate, but saying goodbye to dear friends is never easy.
The eight Carroll debaters had enough free time to see some of San Francisco during the trip. Some walked on the Golden Gate bridge, others ran on the trails in the hills surrounding the city. And some just enjoyed laying in the grass on a warm California afternoon.
“Berkeley was so much fun,” said Catherine Dudley, a junior from Pendleton, Indiana. “I got to connect with nature and some redwoods before the competition, which was my favorite part of the trip, but I also got to connect with some awesome debaters. I learned so much from Berkeley and definitely grew as a debater from this competition.”