CALHOUN MIDDLE SCHOOL DEBATERS WIN STATE
   Calhoun Middle School students Seth Johnson and Emily Lance teamed up to win the varsity division of the State Middle School debate tournament, held  Saturday March 8th at Emory University. It capped an undefeated season for the two eighth graders – the first undefeated season in the history of the school’s debate program. 
   Johnson was also named the tournament’s top speaker, and Lance was awarded fourth place in individual awards. 
   The team finished with a 4-0 record, the only undefeated record in varsity. Calhoun’s victory came at the expense of seventeen intra-state rivals, including the Westminster School, Woodward Academy, Inman, Arbor-Montessori, High Meadows, and Stratford Academy. 
   "I couldn’t be happier for Seth and Emily," said Middle School debate coach Lane Bearden. "This is the culmination of three years of competition – and many nights, weekends, summers and holidays spent practicing and preparing." 
   Bearden pointed out that Johnson went undefeated throughout the year with the contribution of two teammates: Three tournaments and State when paired with Lance, and two other tournaments in the fall when he was paired with 7^th grader Michael McCanless.
   There is one last tournament for the middle schoolers – the national tournament in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Johnson and McCanless will pair up with teammates Thomas Kendrick, Kate Leggett, and Lloyd Bearden for the National Junior Forensic League, International Debate Education Association to be held June 26-29 at Western Kentucky University.
   Kendrick, Leggett and Bearden opted out of middle school competition during their 8^th grade year to travel with the Calhoun High School debaters. "Reunifying this group should make a formidable team for Nationals," said Bearden. 


Seth Johnson and Emily Lance with the First Place State trophy.

The State middle school debate champions and the CHS debaters who braved the snow flurries to help them at the State tournament. (L-R) Lloyd Bearden, Joseph Bearden, Seth Johnson, Kaitlin DeFoor, Emily Lance and Leah Smith