As the 2021-2022 speech and debate season gets underway, a last-minute change to the roster may alter the success of the team this year: new assistant coach Mr. Justin Waterworth. 

On Dec 6, Mr. Waterworth was announced as the official new assistant coach for the PHS Speech and Debate team. The difference between the new assistant coach and that of coaches in previous years is a proven record. 

Mr. Waterworth achieved a perfect record of 84-0 in Policy Debate during his senior year of high school. This earned him several titles including All-Class State Champion, 3A State-Champion, and National Tournament Qualifier. Additionally, his performance at the national tournament in 2006 ranked him in the top 30 policy debaters in the nation. 

Though he debated for Worland High School in his glory days, Mr. Waterworth will now be passing on his debate knowledge and experience to the new generation of debaters at PHS. 

“Mr. Waterworth will be the first coach in a long time that will provide us actual debate knowledge,” junior speech and debate captain Daconvey Brochu said. “And he’ll be able to teach us things we don’t know ourselves.” 

This debate knowledge could finally give Powell competitors an advantage against bigger debate-heavy schools. 

“It will at least put us at an equal playing field; in that we’ll finally have a coach that can specifically mentor us,” Brochu said. “We’ve gone up against schools that have been debate focused for years, and we haven’t had anything like that.” 

Because of the rough nature of debate, knowledgeable debate coaches can be difficult to come by. With Mr. Waterworth, it gives debaters a new and exciting opportunity. 

“I think it gives our team an opportunity to grow and do better than we have,” freshman Salem Brown said. “He can give more informed feedback specifically for debaters.” 

This opportunity gives others great hope for the future of PHS debate. 

“His contribution to the team this year will strengthen our debate team,” head coach Mrs. Nicole MaierReitz said. “Our team has a very good shot at winning the state title this year in debate.”

Mr. Waterworth has begun making plans to win this title- starting with a diverse set of minds and debate styles. 

“Having a collective of unique minds is what makes a debate team function properly,” Mr. Waterworth said. “So I think that I can use that experience to foster a similar situation and make a great team out of a group of unique students.”

Waterworth believes in challenging his debaters, emphasising the importance of preparation before competitions. In short, the majority of work should be put in before the first debate begins. 

“I believe in preparation for all possible outcomes in a debate,” Waterworth said. “I like to have team members prepared for anything before the debate round even begins.” 

Overall, these plans excite even the most experienced debaters on the team, for they understand the value of an experienced debate veteran. 

“I’m definitely hopeful,” Brochu said. “I think he can teach us in events we don’t know about as well as help us in events that we already know.”