St. Vincent debate duo ranks with nation’s best

The team of Julia Hunter and Emma Page placed in the finals at the Alta Silver and Black Tournament in Utah.|

The St. Vincent de Paul High School Debate Team continues to rank among the nation’s best.

The team of Julia Hunter and Emma Page placed in the finals at the Alta Silver and Black Tournament in Utah recently. They are one of the last two teams left (with the College Preparatory School in Oakland) and the final round will be determined at a later date, which means they will either receive first or second place. The ASBT ranks as one of the top 10-15 tournaments in the country.

During the year, teams from all over the country compete to win a bid at the Tournament of Champions. Hunter, who is competing with a new partner this year, has managed to rack up a total of five bids this year and 15 bids to the TOC in her career. She has surpassed the SVHS record for having the highest number of bids ever achieved in a high-school debate career.

Having so many bids puts Hunter and Page at a placement advantage in the beginning stages of the tournament.

Besides being part of the finalist team with Page, who is a new varsity debater, Hunter ranked sixth out of 180 competitors as an individual speaker. Last year, she came in second at the same tournament. The SVHS team won the Alta Tourney last year, and perhaps will win again.

Tom Woodhead, her debate teacher, says, “she is basically amazing and exceptional.”

“For her to receive so many bids, come in so high as an individual and compete with a new teammate this year and still be placing so well, is truly a feat.”

Hunter is the daughter of Catherine and Tom Hunter, and Page is the daughter of Jennifer and Anthony Page. Both students reside in Novato.

Nationally, SVHS ranks among the top 20 teams in the country, according to a coaches’ poll.

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