200 Debaters, 60 Volunteers, and 10 Years of Wildkat Tradition
There is a very specific kind of focus that takes over a hallway right before a tournament starts—students pacing with note cards, running through opening arguments, and double-checking their research one last time before stepping into a room full of judges.
That was the scene at Kokomo High School as nearly 200 students gathered for the 10th annual Big Question Debate Tournament, carrying on ten years of tradition.
The prep for a day like this doesn't happen overnight. Throughout October, KHS Debate Coach Ms. Jennifer Luckey visited advanced-level English classes across the building, breaking down the fundamentals of debate for students who had never set foot behind a podium. She helped them structure arguments, draft rebuttals, and practice thinking on their feet.
On tournament day, weeks of preparation, 200 debaters, and 60 volunteer judges—a mix of parents, teachers, and alumni—came together for three intense rounds of competition. Inside the classrooms, you could see that prep come to life: teammates leaning on each other to pivot mid-round, adjusting their strategies in real time, grounding their claims in solid evidence, and listening intently to dissect their opponent’s points line by line.
Sponsored nationally by the National Speech & Debate Association, the Big Question Debate gives students a platform to sharpen their research and public speaking—but equal parts of the magic come from watching teenagers step past their hesitation, take the floor, and own their arguments with confidence.
Pulling off an event this size takes a huge collective effort. A sincere thank-you goes to Coach Luckey for her leadership in organizing the tournament, the 60 volunteer judges who joined us for a Saturday morning to support our students, and an extra special shout out to every single debater who stepped up to compete.
After three rounds of sharp exchanges and hard-fought arguments, the scores were tallied.
2026 Big Question Debate Tournament Results
Tournament Champions: Gisella Herrera & Braedyn Booker
2nd Place: Averie Stiner & Owen Downing
3rd Place: Micah Taflinger
4th Place: Landon Rink & Hutchinson Munsey
5th Place: Theo Herring & Elaina Gibson
6th Place: Brayley Rayl & Jo’Siyah Mayfield
7th Place: Noah Walton & Lillyanne Milligan
8th Place: Gavin Rizer & Hudson Kalkstein
9th Place: Isabella Richards & Abrashia Moore
10th Place: Trenton Spidell & Cole Bagwell
11th Place: Aiden Galles & Aiden Riegler
12th Place: Destiny Shallenberger & Bodhi Holsapple
13th Place: Hadley Shedron & Taylor Smith
14th Place: Serenity Smith & Kylee Sharp
15th Place: Liam Rody & Grant Gibson
Whether taking home a top placement or stepping behind the microphone for the very first time, every single participant contributed to a decade of excellence. Thank you to our students, families, staff, and alumni for continuing to make this tradition possible—and congratulations to all of our debaters on another unforgettable year of Great Question Debate!