Photographer: COURTESY

Immaculata-La Salle senior Isabella Perez, pictured here with fellow debate team members, is headed to the state competition after earning second place at the district debate tournament Feb. 2, 2020.

MIAMI | Immaculata-La Salle High School’s debate team continued their run of success in recent years with a solid finish at the Florida Forensics League Art Deco district qualifiers Feb. 2.

Senior Isabella Perez took home second place in Lincoln Douglas debate, a performance that earned her a chance to compete at the Florida Forensic League State Championship in Orlando, Feb. 29-March 1.

Her topic at districts: Resolved: States ought to eliminate their nuclear arsenals. Her topic at states will be: Resolved: Predictive policing is unjust.

The ILS Royals Debate Team also will be traveling to Harvard University for the 46th annual Harvard National Debate Tournament during President’s Day Weekend. This will be the 12th time that ILS competes in this tournament.

The Harvard invitational is one of the largest tournaments on the national circuit, with over 430 entries and 310 competitors in Public Forum.

“I’m so excited to go with the team to Harvard. It’s something I look forward to every year and I hope this year is the best because it’s my last year with the team,” said Perez.

The lineup for Public Forum debate features seniors Cat Medina and Cesar Camacho and sophomores Isabella Trespalacios, Delia Sauer, Sophia Mena, and Iggy Gamero. Team captain Perez will be competing in Lincoln-Douglas debate.

Students get chosen based on overall win-lose records and seniority.

“The team is preparing very rigorously for the tournament,” Perez said. “In the days before, the Harvard team will meet every day after school to go over some arguments and fix up our cases. It’s both the most stressful and fun part of the whole Harvard experience.”

Debate team coaches are ILS teachers JC Moya and Celina Sosa.

This article was written by Victoria Betancourt, who is on the staff of the Royal Courier, the student news site of Immaculata-La Salle High School.