Ready, set, debate. Constructive, rebuttal. Rebuttal, constructive. Accusations fly from panel to panel; theories proven or shot down with each world. From the audience, debate team looks like nothing more than organized yelling, but inside each debater’s head, he is calm, collected and ready as ever to debate to his heart’s content.

Year after year, the Homestead High School debate team intimidates the competition with its exquisite arguments and incredibly crafted stances. On Sept. 24, 2016, the varsity debate team competed in the Rufus King 2016 Tournament, the state season opener, at Rufus King High School.

“This tournament… carries significance because it sets the tone for the whole season,” Mitchell Larson, senior, said. “We had three varsity pairs in the tournament and these three pairs ended up as first, second and third,” Larson added — first place finishers being himself and his partner, Katie Cao, senior.

“Placing first in the varsity debate… was an awesome way to start the season,” Cao said. Along with being a ferocious pair on stage, Cao and Larson are also the varsity co-captains.

“The highlight of the weekend was definitely how well we did as a team. Almost every novice got a qualifying record for state,” Cao said. “As a team captain, I was incredibly proud, not just because of all the trophies and awards, but because I know how hard every member worked to get where we are today.”

Returning coach Justice Platt is incredibly impressed, but not surprised, by his team’s immense victory. “This weekend’s success set a tone for the year and showed that Homestead debaters can expect great success with hard work and smart debating,” said Platt. “I expect great success at the state tournament, and think the championship is a very real possibility although nothing is certain until we debate it out.”