Over Spring Break, two North Lamar High School debate teams vied for the state championship in the University Interscholastic League (UIL) Cross Examination Debate in Austin.
This is the second consecutive year that a North Lamar team claimed the Texas 4A Cross Examination Debate State Championship.
Seniors Zach Huffman and Garrett Holzwarth brought the gold back to North Lamar going undefeated through eight rounds of debate. This is the third state championship for Huffman. In 2018, he was UIL State Champion in Informative Speaking, and in January of this year he was named UIL Student Congress State Champion.
North Lamar’s second team, junior Katie Hodgkiss and freshman Mackenzie Walker, placed fifth after losing the quarterfinals round to their teammates. Hodgkiss, along with teammate Mason Remaley, won the gold in 2018.
In addition, UIL awards Golden Gavel Awards to the top six speakers based on speaker points given by judges each round. Hodgkiss received the fifth place gavel, and Huffman received the sixth place gavel.
North Lamar’s debate teams are coach by Kristi Hodgkiss. Under her leadership, students have earned 17 state championships.
North Lamar’s debate team of Mackenzie Walker and Katie Hodgkiss brought home the fifth place medal from the State UIL Cross Examination Debate.
