DEBATE
The competitive debate team competes in 6A OSSAA and the Tournament of Champions qualifier national tournaments. “We strive for distinction in the team policy debate field as we show a willingness to engage with secular culture while at the same time adhering to our Christian faith,” Savill added. Utilizing novice, junior varsity and varsity squads, the team pursues a flex strategy of combining policy and Kritik-based arguments. With five state titles (one in 3A, four in 5A), the team continues to grow and compete against some of the best high schools in the country.
SCHEDULES & RESULTS
2020-21
Grapevine Classic (Tournament of Champions Qualifier): September 11-15, 2020
Congratulations to Blaine Y. and Garrett B. for getting a winning record (3-3). We didn’t break but the competition is certainly higher since it is online and anyone from around the world (had a team from Taiwan) can compete.
National Speech and Debate Tournament Season Opener at University of Kentucky (Tournament of Champions Qualifier): September 12-14, 2020
The team of Matthew K. and Tim H. went 4-2 in the preliminary rounds and broke to the triple octofinals and finished 44th out of 134 teams from 19 states and Taiwan. It is the first time Matthew and Tim have made it to the elimination rounds in a TOC qualifier tournament. Great job guys!
Greenhill Fall Classic (Tournament of Champions Qualifier): September 17-21, 2020
Congratulations to Blaine Y. and Garrett B. for getting a winning record (3-3) at this very hard fall tournament with 103 entries from 17 states. We are encouraged we keep getting winning records and will strive to get over that hump to 4-2 so we can break into the elimination rounds.
University of California Jack Howe Memorial Tournament (Tournament of Champions Qualifier): September 19-21, 2020
In the junior varsity division, Alisea C. and Madison H. went 3-2 in the prelims but lost in the quarterfinals to a team from Sonoma, California. Congrats on 5th place! Also, in the novice division, closing out finals goes to first place Braeden A. and Thomas C. with 8th graders Matthew S. and Matthew L. getting second. Fifth place goes to Evan C. and Ren L. while 8th grader Garrett M. and Lucas L. got 6th. Great work everyone!
Trevian Invitational (Tournament of Champions Qualifier): October 10-12, 2020
Blaine Y. and Garrett B. went 3-3 in the prelims. They are still working hard to figure out how to win the “break round” which is the debate round that determines if you make it into the elimination phase of the tournament.
Heritage Hall JW Patterson Invitational (Tournament of Champions Qualifier): October 16-18, 2020
One of our favorite local tournaments, a warm congratulations to Braeden A. and Tim H. for getting third place in JV policy (losing to St. Mark’s from Texas on a 2-1) and to Alisea C. and Madison H. for going 4-2 in the prelim rounds. After going 3-0 the first day, the team of Garrett B. and Blaine Y. lost the next three, losing the break round against a tough Damien team from California.
University of Michigan Round Robin (Junior class) Tournament: November 5-6, 2020
Sixteen of the best junior-level teams in the country got the invite to compete in this round robin, the first national level invite CCS has ever received. We worked hard to prepare and are happy to say we got 12th out of 16 teams. Great job to Garrett B. and Blaine Y. for putting in all the extra effort!
University of Michigan Tournament (Tournament of Champions Qualifier): November 7-8, 2020
In this very large tournament, a big well-done to Thomas C. and Braeden A. for getting fifth place in novice policy out of 93 entries. Also a well-done to Thomas for getting 24th Best Speaker out of 182 debaters.
Broken Arrow Tournament: November 19, 2020
Garrett B. and Blaine Y. along with Tim H. and Matt K. qualified for the 6A OSSAA Regional tournament by getting in the top 3 in this tournament. Great work everyone!
Glenbrooks Speech and Debate Tournament (Tournament of Champions Qualifier): November 21-23, 2020
Well done to Braeden A. and Thomas C. for going 4-2 in their second JV tournament (but didn’t break due to speaker points not being high enough). Ben V. and Garrett M., competing in novice, also did not break despite going 4-2. Really wish the rule for all tournaments should be if a team goes 4-2 they should break.
Spartan Classic at Michigan State University (Tournament of Champions Qualifier): December 4-6, 2020
Congratulations to Braeden A. and Thomas C. for getting 3rd place in novice, beating the likes of the University of Chicago Lab School and Carmel Valley Independent (California) before losing to Okemos (Michigan) in the semis. They have really represented Crossings well at the national novice level.
Longhorn Classic at UT Austin (Tournament of Champions Qualifier): December 4-6, 2020
Garrett B. and Blaine Y. once again went 3-3 and lost a close break round against Coppell KC (10th ranked team in the country), who went on to get second place in varsity policy. We are definitely holding our own against the top teams in the country but haven’t found that key to breaking through yet.
Damien Middle School Tournament: December 12, 2020
Competing against the best of California novice teams, congratulations to 8th graders Matthew L. and Matthew S. for closing out the finals with fellow 8th graders Ben V. and Garrett M. They fought some tough rounds against Modern Brain Debate and did well. Matthew S. got first place Best Speaker and Matthew L. received second.
Omaha Westside Tournament (Tournament of Champions Qualifier): January 21-23, 2021
We did it! We have struggled for many years trying to get a bid to the May Tournament of Champions (two are required to get an invite) and have lost numerous bid rounds. Garrett B. and Blaine Y. accomplished many firsts at this tournament: they went 6-0 in prelims, they won the tournament (beating national powerhouse Montgomery Bell in the finals), got first (Blaine) and second (Garrett) Best Speaker, and got our first bid. Way to go guys!
Peninsula Invitational (Tournament of Champions Qualifier): January 23-25, 2021
Congratulations to 8th graders Ben V. and Garrett M. for getting 9th place in novice policy, losing in a close 2-1 decision against the Asian Debate League from Taiwan. Braeden A. and Thomas C. got third place in novice, losing in the semis to Carmel Valley Independent from California. Well done to Garrett M. for receiving 7th place best speaker out of 72 debaters.
Poteau Tournament: February 19, 2021
Congrats to Alisea C. and Madison H. and Braeden A. and Thomas C. for qualifying to the 6A OSSAA Regional tournament!
Heart of Texas St. Mark’s Tournament (Tournament of Champions Qualifier): February 27-28, 2021
One of the toughest tournaments of the year. We came up short as no one broke but we definitely learned a lot.
OSSAA 6A Regional Tournament: March 26-27, 2021
Congrats to the team for performing well. In first place, Garrett B. and Blaine Y. Second to Braeden A. and Thomas C. while Tim H. and Matt K. got third. Alisea C. and Madison H. received 6th. Great job everyone!
OSSAA 6A State Tournament: April 8-10, 2021
We came up short in our first ever competition in 6A but are happy with our results. Third place went to Garrett B. and Blaine Y while Tim H. and Matthew K. got fourth. Seventh place goes to Madison H. and Alisea C. with Thomas C. and Jackson R. (helping us out as Braeden A. couldn’t attend) getting 8th.
National Debate Coaches Association National Tournament: April 10-11, 2021
Congrats to Blaine Y. and Garrett B. for receiving an invitation to this national championship tournament. The state tournament schedule changed so the end of state overlapped with the beginning of this tournament which forced Blaine and Garrett to concede the first two rounds. Overall, they won Crossings first round ever at a national championship tournament and we are proud of their perseverance. Also, congrats to 8th graders Ben V. and Garrett M. for going 3-3 at the national novice tournament, our first winning record at this level.
Southern States Middle School Speech and Debate Championship: April 17, 2021
We participated in this tournament per an invitation and to prepare for the MS TOC the following month. The rounds didn’t go the way we had wanted but we definitely learned some things.
2021-22
Grapevine Classic (Tournament of Champions Qualifier): September 10-11, 2021
Congratulations to Blaine Y. and Garrett B. for breaking in varsity to the double octofinal round and getting 26th place! Also, well done to Garrett M. and Ren L. for getting 6th place in Junior Varsity.
Greenhill Fall Classic (Tournament of Champions Qualifier): September 18-20, 2021
Congratulations to Blaine Y. and Garrett B. for getting a winning record (3-3) at this very hard national-level tournament.
Edmond North: September 24-25, 2021
Well done to Braeden A. and Garrett M. for getting third and to Garrett B. and Blaine Y. for getting first in the 6A division! Both teams qualified for the OSSAA West Regional tournament in March. Also, in the novice division, 7th graders James G. and Erik W. got first place with Audrey O. and Ren L. getting third and Knox W. and Kyle M. getting fourth. Great work everyone!
Moore Tournament: October 29-30, 2021
Congrats to Matthew L. and Garrett M. for getting first place in the varsity 6A division and qualifying for the Regional tournament. In the novice division, Alex Y. and Audrey O. received second place.
University of Michigan Round Robin (Senior class) Tournament: November 4-7, 2021
Sixteen of the best senior-level teams in the country got the invite to compete in this round robin, the second national level invite CCS has ever received. We worked hard to prepare and are happy to say we got 12th out of 16 teams. Great job to Garrett B. and Blaine Y. for putting in all the extra effort!
Longhorn Classic at UT Austin (Tournament of Champions Qualifier): December 3-4, 2021
Our first in-person tournament since the start of COVID! We were so excited to attend. Special congrats to having, for the first time, two teams break at the varsity level: Garrett B. and Blaine Y. received 20th place and Thomas C. and Braeden A. got 21st. Also, Blaine Y. got 19th Best Speaker!
Crossings Christian School Gauntlet Tournament: January 7-8, 2022
We hosted our fifth tournament for 5A and 6A OSSAA speech and debate and had teams from all over Oklahoma come to compete. We thoroughly enjoy having everyone here and are looking forward to next year!
Gonzaga (Tournament of Champions Qualifier): January 7-8, 2022
We did it! Blaine Y. and Garrett B. achieved our second ever TOC bid by getting to the semi-finals at this tournament and receiving third place! Beating Jesuit in the octafinals and a very tough Interlake team in the quarters showed our hard work and prep are starting to pay off.
Norman North Tournament: January 21-22, 2022
Jackson R. and Alisea C. got second place (and qualified for Regionals) with Garrett B. and Braeden A. getting third and Audrey O. and Blaine Y. getting fourth. Well done to Garrett M. and Matthew L. winning the Champ division in 6A! Way to go guys!
Iowa City Tournament (Tournament of Champions Qualifier): February 25-27, 2022
Interesting tournament where we debated mostly Chicago area teams which had a different style than what we are normally used to but we did learn about how to do better next time. Congrats to Blaine Y. and Garrett B. for going 3-3. Also, special mention to Garrett M. and Matthew L. for getting two byes and a forfeit.
National Speech and Debate Association National Qualifier Tournament: March 3-5, 2022
For the first time in our history, we have qualified for the NSDA National Tournament. Congratulations to 1st place winner Garrett B. and Blaine Y. and for third place qualifiers Matthew L. and Garrett M. The two teams are eligible to represent Oklahoma in June.
OSSAA 6A Regional Tournament: March 25-26, 2022
Congrats to the team for performing well and sweeping the top four spots! We are qualified for state. Great job everyone!
OSSAA 6A State Tournament: April 7-9, 2022
We did it! Garrett B. and Blaine Y. got first place, our first OSSAA 6A state title in school history, beating Moore in the semifinals and Heritage Hall in the finals! Alisea C. and Jackson R. got fifth with Garrett M. and Matthew L. received sixth and Thomas C. and Braeden A. got seventh. Great job squad!
2022-23
Our goal is to always try our best in every round and promote Christ-centered excellence.
CCS Debate Coach Dennis Savill
