The Burnet High School debate duo of Hayden Brown and Grace Gates competed at the UIL State Cross-Examination Debate tournament held at the University of Texas in Austin on Friday and Saturday.
Hayden and Grace cruised through some early rounds of the 53 team field dispatching Burkburnett HS, Sunnyvale HS and Dallas Gifted and Talented HS before debating a very tough LaVernia team which handed them their first loss. They finished the first day with a 3-1 record, good enough to seed them 8th and a spot in the Octofinals for Saturday. The 16 team field began the next day with Burnet sending a talented Big Spring HS duo home and a round with the number 1 seed Athens HS in the quarterfinals. A very tough debate ensued, and both teams felt like they had put in their best efforts. The 3 judge panel favored the Athens debaters and the season ended for Hayden and Grace. Their wins were enough to finish 5th in all of class 4A in the state of Texas and their only 2 losses to the state runner up (LaVernia) and state bronze medalist (Athens).
They both leave Burnet High School as the two time defending District Champions('22 and '23) and two straight appearances at the State Tournament as Octofinalists (2022) and Quarterfinalist (2023). Grace also earned the Top Speaker Award at the district meets in 2022 and 2023.
Both Hayden and Grace will be attending the University of Texas at Austin this fall. Congratulations to both of them for an outstanding year and career!