Spring 2004

Northwestern student helps bring debate trophy to ETHS

Aided by a Northwestern University student, an Evanston Township High School senior captured the state high school debate championship in the Lincoln-Douglas debate division in March, bringing ETHS its first-ever championship in that division of the state debate competition.

Geoffrey A. Cubbage, 17, took first-place honors at the Illinois High School Association debate tournament held at Illinois State University.

Although Cubbage was the only entrant from ETHS in the Lincoln-Douglas division, he overcame several teams from traditional debate powers such as New Trier and Glenbrook North that entered three or four students.

Evanston’s debate team is coached by Richard Dempsey, who teaches debate, public speaking and American Legal Systems at ETHS.

A Northwestern student, Olga Sazonova of Fairfax, Va., assisted Dempsey in coaching the Lincoln-Douglas division debaters this year. An accomplished debater in high school, Sazonova is a junior majoring in biomechanical engineering at Northwestern. She volunteered to assist ETHS debaters last year and became a part-time assistant coach this year, working with the Lincoln-Douglas debaters.

Because of her busy schedule as an engineering student, Sazonova met with ETHS students at different hours and locations and did her homework at tournaments.

The day before the tournament she and Cubbage spent eight hours straight preparing and practicing debating techniques.

She plans to continue working as an assistant coach next year. “Geoffrey’s success has fueled the fire for the other kids,” Sazonova says.

“I’m very grateful to Mr. Dempsey for giving me the opportunity to do Lincoln-Douglas debate and to Olga for her coaching,” Cubbage said.

“Winning the state tournament is an incredible thrill, something I’ve been aiming for, but I know that without the guidance of Mr. Dempsey and Olga, I never would have been able to accomplish this.”