The BC debate team ended its season with a bang by winning the novice division in Policy Debate at a tournament hosted by Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo on Feb. 26.
John Chaplow and Kristen Lechtreck teamed up to finish third and seventh, respectively, for speakers points at the tournament. Against three four-year schools, they beat Cal Poly in the quarterfinal elimination round, eliminated Chico State in the semifinals, and beat Sacramento State in the final round.
“We’re all college students,” Lechtreck said. “It doesn’t feel different or intimidating to debate against four-year schools.”
Policy Debate requires a lot of research that debaters collect from mid September through April. Coaches Michael Korcok and Bob Lechtreck spend many hours with the team, including weekends and winter break.
“There is no amount of money that can compensate a coach for the amount of time he puts in,” Bob Lechtreck said.
BC has competed in six tournaments this season. In winning at Cal Poly, BC beat out 25 teams from about 10 different schools.
“It (the BC debate team) has a great reputation, especially over the past 12 years or so. It is the premier community college debate program in the country,” Korcok said. BC consistently either wins or finishes in the top three spots at the Community College National Tournament.
In part it was ultimately BC’s reputation that persuaded Korcok to come to Bakersfield three years ago. With an extensive background participating in and coaching debate, from MIT, the University of Southern Illinois, Kansas State, Cornell and Florida State, the decision to teach at BC was made over several other four-year schools and universities.
This year, the debate team varied between six to 10 members. Team members would like to have more people involved.
“It is a lot more fun when you have a lot of people and you show up at a debate tournament and you have a group of people there. It shows that people really care about the program,” said team member Jorge Mujica, 22, a political science major.
Until the season starts up again, the plan is to lecture, and work on skills and strategies for next season.
“There is only one major tournament left for us and that is the National Championship, and with that particular team we plan on doing a lot of work,” said Lechtreck.