I debated for 4 years in Kansas in the late 80s and early 90s.
I have been a head coach in high school for 19 years.

I can listen somewhat quickly…but not very fast. I’m a very traditional policy-maker.

Standard things:

I want really good explanation of all arguments. I try hard not to do analysis work for you. Overviews really help me!

Topicality- If the case is clearly non-topical, please run the argument and I’ll pull the trigger on it pretty quickly. If it is probably topical…I am very slow to pull that trigger.

Kritiks- Not really a fan. I am very policy-maker in this regard. If you choose to run a K, I will listen and try and understand it. However, the way my brain works in a debate context is that I will probably weigh the impacts of the K against the other team’s impacts…you know…like a policy maker would.

Counterplans – probably a good thing to have. Not a fan nit-picky word pics, but agent counterplans and others like it are a good thing for me..

Kritikal affs- Not a fan…they typically confuse me…

Ana-Sofia Lahovary (she/they)

KU'25

Assistant Coach for Shawnee Mission East High School

lahovarya@gmail.com add me to the chain:)

About me: Currently a freshman at KU Honors majoring in Political Science and Global&International Studies and coaching for Shawnee Mission East High School. I debated at SME for four years and three on the TOC circuit. As for my argumentative history, I read both kritikal (Abolition, afro-pess, cap) and and big stick policy affirmatives in high school and look forward to judge debates in both areas.

Evaluating Debates: Be kind to each other! Without having a long paragraph on theory, I think condo and pics are generally good and think theory based arguments are a reason to reject the argument, not the team. Detailed impact calc is very important, contextualize it to the round. I value well-explained internal link chains and efficient speeches. Judge instruction is important and use cross x to your advantage.

- disclosure is good

- tech > truth

- I won't vote on things that happen outside the round

- keep track of your own prep

- clipping/cheating/bigotry will guarantee a loss

- evidence comparison and ethos are good and will be rewarded

- I'm moderately familiar with the water topic but pls explain acronyms

have fun !