CDS Debaters All Advanced to Finals at World Championships
CDS experienced several firsts last week at the World Individual Debating & Public Speaking Championships (WIDPSC) held at Canberra Girls Grammar School in Canberra, Australia.
Ethan Wahba ’24, Millie Steinmann ’25 and Sarah Croxon ’24 competed in a total of eight finals for CDS, with both Ethan and Millie emerging as World Champions.
According to their coach Kerstin Wyndham-West, who has led the debating program for more than 20 years, “We have never had two students win their individual categories in the same year, and all three made it to eight of the possible 12 finals! That is a record for CDS.”
In the individual events, Ethan is World Champion of Interpretive Reading and finished 3rd in Debating, and Millie is World Champion of Persuasive Speaking. Overall Ethan was the 3rd place speaker, Millie was 9th and Sarah was 18th out of 124 students representing 15 countries.
All three students chose thought-provoking topics and readings to present on. Here some
highlights:
“For my interpretive reading, I performed the short story Going Grapefruit by Ian Richards. This story follows a man who is hit by a car and incurs a traumatic injury which changes the way his brain processes language, in his new language words take on seemingly random meanings. I chose this piece because it reminds us that understanding others is much more than just the words people use, but rather the tone and emotion that comes with it.” – Ethan Wahba ’24
“I presented a persuasive speech about the hidden dangers of energy drinks, particularly for teenagers. Companies like Red Bull specifically market to young people by hiring college students to handout free drinks on university campuses. I don’t think people realize just how much caffeine is in these drinks. Just one can contains as much as six cans of Coke, way more than the recommended daily allowance of caffeine for kids, which can have a really dangerous effect on your heart and long-term health.” – Millie Steinmann ’25
“My persuasive speech looked at the growing problem of the tipping culture across North America. Ever since the pandemic, it has become a growing issue. I feel people should be able to do what they want when it comes to leaving a gratuity. I really enjoyed writing and performing this speech because it is a topic that everyone can relate to in some way.” – Sarah Croxon ’24
Overall, the students agreed that this trip was an experience of a lifetime and for Ethan and Sarah, a wonderful way to cap off their debating careers at CDS.
“Meeting students from all across the world opened me up to so many new perspectives that only a global competition could provide,” said Ethan. “Additionally, I believe that having these debates about economic, geopolitical, and social issues is so important in today's ever-changing world. Having debated at CDS since grade seven, it was truly a full-circle moment to end my public speaking career as a world champion.”
Sarah added, “I don’t think any of us would have realized that qualifying for Worlds in Australia would have been a possibility by simply signing up for Debating Club as an extra-curricular in Middle School.”
They were all in agreement that their individual success, and that of their team, wouldn’t have been possible without the support of their four amazing coaches, specifically Ms. Wyndham West who has supported them since the beginning.
A little background about Debating at CDS:
The Country Day School has been qualifying students for this championship every year since 2008, and has brought three students for the past two years!
Over the past 9 years, CDS has had four overall World Champions at this event, including Natalie Ganzhorn '16, Olivia Railton '17, Anna Croxon '20 and Maria Ivoditova '22.
Kerstin Wyndham-West has been joined by two CDS teachers in coaching the Debating & Public Speaking team, Antonella Costanzo and Timur Saklica (who is also a CDS and debating alumnus), as well as long time debating coach from St. John's-Ravenscourt in Winnipeg who is now retired and living in Ontario. Mr. John Robinson helped to launch the WIDPSC in 1988, alongside debating coaches from Reading Blue Coat School in the UK and the Debating Association of New England Schools. To learn more, visit www.cds.on.ca/debating
Land Acknowledgment
The Country Day School wishes to recognize and acknowledge the land on which the school operates. Our nearest Indigenous Nations are now the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Chippewas of Georgina Island. The Dish with One Spoon Wampum covenant is often cited as an example of the shared responsibility for caring for these lands among the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples who would call these their traditional territories. CDS respects the relationship with these lands and recognizes that our connection to this land can be strengthened by our continued relationship with all First Nations, by acknowledging our shared responsibility to respect and care for the land and waters for future generations.
School Information
13415 Dufferin Street King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
