Downers Grove Students Win Harvard Debate Tournament

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — Two eighth graders from Avery Coonley School recently earned a trophy at the Harvard National Forensics Tournament, which was held the weekend of President's Day in Massachusetts.

Jimmy Yu and Kavin Bendre, the Junior Varsity Division in the national-circuit policy debate category. The annual competition brings together top junior and sophomore debate students from across the country.

“A middle school team earning a national-circuit tournament victory against highly skilled and exceptionally well-trained high school competitors is nearly unheard of, and it’s a true testament to the hard work and dedication of our debaters,” Joshua Friess, who coaches debate and teaches math at The Avery Coonley School, said in a news release.

Yu and Bendre were among four students from the middle school, along with seventh graders Fiona Friess and Naihara Rout, who also competed in forensics tournament.

Director of Debate Eric Youngquist said, “The debate program has come a long way since its inception only five years ago. The kids built the program with me, each successive year helping out the newer debaters while also forging new paths and working together to succeed. The program’s strength comes from the students and their efforts. Jimmy and Kavin are great examples as they dedicated hours of their time each week to preparing for the tournament."