It’s a Repeat Victory for Athens Debate!

AHS among top 15 winningest CX debate programs EVER in Texas

Cooper Rich (left) and Isaac Hoch

Seniors Cooper Rich and Isaac Hoch have done it again — claiming their second straight state championship in CX debate. The duo went undefeated at this year’s UIL 4A state tournament, earning unanimous 3-0 decisions in every panel-judged round and further cementing their place in Athens High School history.

With this latest title, Athens High School undisputedly ranks among the top 15 winningest CX debate programs in the state of Texas — across all conferences. (CX stands for cross-examination, a two-on-two policy debate format.) It’s a remarkable milestone and a testament to the powerhouse debate program at AHS.

This latest win marks Athens ISD’s sixth state title in CX debate since 2014, continuing a tradition of excellence that few programs can match. Rich and Hoch’s latest win also caps off a banner school year: Hoch earned regional championships in both congressional debate and informative speaking, advancing to the UIL State Speech Meet in Austin this past November. And both Hoch and Rich have qualified for this summer’s NSDA National Tournament in CX debate, proudly representing Athens on the national stage for the second consecutive year. Last year, they competed at nationals in congressional debate.

The current members of AHS Speech & Debate team are following in the footsteps of many outstanding Athens debaters. In 2017, AHS brought home two state championships: one in congressional debate by Matthew Hernandez and one in extemporaneous speaking by Michael Pulver. In 2014, Madalyn Mikkelsen and Meridith McDonald captured Athens’ first state championship in CX. In 2011 and 2012, respectively, Sam Haynie and Quinton Johnson (who has appeared many times on Broadway in “Hamilton”) earned gold medals in poetry interpretation at the UIL state meet.

Also, and most notably, in 2017, True Head and Matthew Hernandez made UIL history by winning their third consecutive state title in CX debate, a feat matched by only one other team in more than a century of UIL competition. That legacy now lives on in Rich and Hoch — and the future of Athens debate has never looked brighter.

Special thanks and congratulations go to Coach Will Honea and the entire speech and debate team for the dedication, discipline and heart you all bring to this program every day!