An Appleton East High School senior made state history at a national debate competition.
Matthew Moorhead is the first student from Wisconsin to advance to the elimination rounds of the Tournament of Champions, in the Lincoln Douglas category. He went on to finish 17th in the country in the one-on-one debates, at the University of Kentucky.
Moorhead says it was nice getting support from debate friends from around Wisconsin, and knowing that he wasn’t only representing his school, but the entire state. He says it’s still just sinking in that he was the first from the state to receive a speaker award, and do so well.
About 75 students from around the country qualified for what’s considered to be the most prestigious debate tournament.
Moorhead is also the first student from Wisconsin to make it to the tournament in more than 20 years.
He joined the debate team at Appleton East during his freshman year, because his older brother was on the team.
Moorhead is still deciding where to go to college next year. He’s planning to major in business or pre-law.
