Cyndi Loza

High school debaters are a distinct breed.

“(Debaters) are usually the people who point out when someone’s wrong in class — and it’s hard to make friends when you’re pointing out peoples fallacies,” McQueen High School debate coach Kim Stanhouse said. “But in debate, they’re all like that, and it’s easier to fit in.”

The McQueen High School debate team prepares to host and compete in the Nevada State Championship Debate Tournament on March 28-29 at Truckee Meadows Community College. More than 300 students from schools across the state are expected to attend the tournament at the college’s Dandini campus, 7000 Dandini Blvd.

“It’s intimidating for a team of seven students to be hosting an event for 350 students,” 21-year-old Stanhouse said.

The McQueen team will be arguing whether a broader definition for a hate crime is unjust.

“I’m starting to stress about the debate because our tournament is next week, and it just seems it’s sooner than it should be,” McQueen junior Hui Min Cao said.

When asked, why Cao, 17, likes to debate she answered: “I like to win arguments.”

“When you’re arguing with your parents you have to let them win, but not with other kids,” Cao said.

Last year’s state championship winner for humorous interpretation, Max Alderman, joined the McQueen team as an assistant coach to share his expertise.

“It’s really a good academic arena, as well as one for intellectual stimulation,” said Alderman, 19, now a freshman at the University of Nevada, Reno. “Now that I’m not really competing, I just want to make sure the kids do very well.”

Longtime debate judge Robert Wexler, 62, will not be judging the March 28-29 tournament but encourages community members to join the world of debate.

“One thing for me to emphasize about the judges is that no technical knowledge is necessary,” said Wexler, who has been a high school debate judge for more than 48 years. “It’s the responsibly of the debaters … to clearly explain their positions.”

A debate judge is similar to a juror in that “you listen to both sides and make practical conclusions,” Wexler said.