The Crosby High School Debate Team-NFL National Championship Tournament

The Crosby High School Debate Team travelled to the NFL National Championship Tournament in Wichita, Kansas during the week of June 16-22. 

Matthew Carswell and Jon Slotter received 10th place in the nation by winning the ballots of 21 of the 28 judges that heard them.  There were 194 cross-examination debate teams competing.  According to the NFL website (http://www.nflonline.org/Main/HomePage), the National Forensics League has "over 2,700 member schools and 93,000 active student members." 

The debates were on the 2006-7 national topic:  "Resolved:  That the United States federal government should establish a policy substantially increasing the number of persons serving in one or more of the following national service programs:  AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, Peace Corps, Learn and Serve America, Citizen Corps, the Armed Forces."  To qualify for NFL Nationals 2 person debate teams have to win either first or second place at their NFL District tournament.  Last March, Matt and Jon won first place in the NFL East Texas District Tournament. 

At the national tournament, debate teams compete against teams from other states for 6 preliminary rounds.  Each round has 2 judges.  To advance to the elimination rounds debate teams have to win at least 8 of the available 12 ballots.  Matt and Jon won 9 ballots.  All teams with at least 8 rounds are randomly matched against each other.  The tournament becomes double elimination.  Matt and Jon lasted until round 12 of the tournament with only 13 teams left of the original 194.  The only Texas team to be ranked higher was the St. Mark's School for Boys from Dallas, TX. 

Jon Slotter was also awarded NFL Academic All-American.  Up to February 2007 there were only 72 NFL Academic All-Americans in the nation.  There were only 2 other All-Americans in Texas. 

This was a fitting culmination for Matt and Jon's senior year which consisted of a regular season win-loss record higher than 85 percent, a qualification for the Tournament of Champions National Tournament and winning the 4A UIL State Championship. 

Both Matt and Jon qualified for NFL Nationals last year with different partners.  Both have full tuition debate scholarships to the University of Texas at Dallas. 

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