Sunflower Novice State Championships

You and your team are invited to the Sunflower Novice State Championships on January 5-6, 2024 at Washburn Rural. This event celebrates the accomplishments of novice debates throughout the 2023-2024 school year, and offers an insight into our activity's future generations!

Qualifications:

Unlike the other divisions at this tournament and/or the KSHSAA state tournament, there are no formal qualification measures for the Novice State tournament. In general, ask yourself if you think these students have earned the right to compete, as long as they are in their first year of policy debate. However, there are two divisions:

1. (Sunflower) 9th Grade Novice-This division is for teams composed of two ninth grade students only.
2. Open Novice-This is for mixed-grade level teams and/or 9th grade teams.

Schools are limited to a maximum of four teams total across both divisions.

Judging:

Schools will be required to bring 1 judge for every two teams, or portion thereof. We will not utilize student judges for this tournament.

Fees and Awards:

Fees will be $17.50 per entry. Awards include speaker awards, out-round plaques, and an engravable traveling trophy to the tournament victor.

Format & Logistics:

Open tab, 5 preliminary debates (3 Friday), after which the top 16 teams will advance to an octafinal round. The topic will be this year’s debate resolution. All KSHSAA rules apply.

Schedule:

Friday preliminary rounds: 4:00 / 6:00 / 8:00

Saturday preliminary rounds: 8:30 / 10:30

Saturday elimination rounds: 1:00 octafinals, then continuing ASAP until complete

Administration:

The committee responsible for administering the KDC consists of Dustin Rimmey (Topeka High) and Russ Tidwell (Garden City)

We look forward to seeing you and your students in January!