4 Debaters Picked for State Tournament

Four students from the top-ranked Gardena High School debate team have qualified for the California High School Assn. State Tournament.

“It’s a very select few students that qualify each year and we had four of them,” said Lois Paddor, the forensic team coach.

Qualifying for the event were Teresa Baker for expository speech, Lynne Murakami for thematic interpretation, Huy On for expository speech and Shelly Ward for original advocacy and original oratory.

The tournament will held May 4-7 at the University of the Pacific in Stockton. The National Forensics League has ranked the Gardena High varsity forensic team in the top 3% of all high schools in the nation.