Sandburg's Kelly Mack participates in an early-round debate Saturday. (Jeff Vorva/Tribune)

There was little debate that local students enjoyed a successful run in the sixth annual Convocation of Eagles Invitational Debate Tournament Saturday at Sandburg High School in Orland Park.

In the Public Forum division, Fremd’s Scott Kirkwood and Sri Nanduri took first place in varsity, followed by Sandburg’s Robert Bourret and Anastasia Courtes. Sandburg’s Ted Lagen and Joe Sabuda won first in the JV contest while Palatine’s Derek Christiansen and Jacob Gordon won the novice division followed by Lincoln-Way East’s Victoria Butler and Natalie McCray.

In the Lincoln-Douglas disivion, Schaumburg’s Kali Froh won the varisty, Barrington’s Bo Donoghue won the JV contest and Libertyville’s Ankur Rastogi won in the novice category.

Meet directors and Sandburg coaches Scott and Lainee McGraw said there were 250 students in the debate this is the largest turnout for the event and is the largest invitational held in the state.

“We feature outrounds, which is a semifinal and final round and you don’t see that at many invitationals,” Scott McGraw said. “This gives the competitors a little taste of what the state tournament is like.”

Stagg High School sophomore Sam Kearns rehearses for his debate before the invitational at Sandburg. (Jeff Vorva/Tribune)

The Illinois High School Association state final if March 15-17 at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington.

Other schools in the Sandburg event from the area included Andrew, Stagg, St. Charles North, New Trier, Marist, Fenwick, Buffalo Grove, Grant and Northridge Prep.
Other schools include Freeport, Granite City, Belleville East, Normal U-High, Belvidere, and the Southern Illinois School of Engineering.