Springlake-Earth took two teams to the 1A Cross Examination State Debate meet at the University of Texas campus in Austin on March 13-14, 2000. Only two teams from each district are allowed to advance to the state meet, and in our district both teams were from Springlake-Earth ISD. This is the second year in a row SEHS has qualified both teams.

Matthew and Clay, SE's first team, received first in district. SE's second team, which placed second in district, consisted of CheLyn and Carrie. Our second team did a fantastic job winning two out of their four preliminary rounds. They lost to the two teams who were ranked in the top sixteen teams out of fifty-two teams that competed in the two day state meet.

Matthew and Clay did an outstanding job taking the tournament's state championship for 1-A independent school districts. In their preliminary rounds, they competed against teams from Harper, SS Hopkins, Blum and Wink. Matt and Clay finished the day with a perfect 4-0 record, which allowed them to advance to the second day. On the second day they competed against teams from Roscoe Highland, Rankin, Welch Dawson, and Whitharral. With each win Matthew and Clay were allowed to advance. The last round was against Whitharral and Matt and Clay were ready. Whitharral underwent the affirmative side of the debate, while Matthew and Clay took on the job of the negative side. After the round, everyone still in competition met in a meeting room provided by the University of Texas campus. When the results were announced, on a 3-0 decision, Matthew and Clay received the 2000 Cross Examination Debate Conference 1-A State Championship.

Not only was Clay awarded the state championship medal for team debate, he also received an award for the fourth highest speaker points. Matthew also showed his talent by barely missing the fifth highest speaker by one point. These rewards also came out of the fifty-two competitors.

At this time the debate teams would like to recognize and thank their wonderful debate coach, Barbara Huckabee, for all the effort and time spent before school and after school to prepare her teams for the district and state meets; she is really appreciated. They would also like to thank the communities of Springlake and Earth, who, without their support, this would not have been possible.