UPPER FREEHOLD The Stone Bridge Middle School debate team of Laur’en Cocozello, Brian Krewson and Taylor Watters won four of five debates and placed fourth overall at the second Garden State Debate League tournament Jan. 26.
The tournament, which was held at Barkalow Middle School in Freehold, had 26 teams from six different middle schools participating in the event.
Students debated the pros and cons of banning energy drinks; giving FEMA’s responsibilities to the states, the caste system in Indian society, Wikipedia as more harmful than good, and prohibiting the expansion of oil drilling off the East Coast.
Stone Bridge Middle School sent six debate teams, all of which won at least two or more of the debates.
Additionally, students were awarded individual speaker points for their debating skills. Of the 77 debate competitors, three Stone Bridge team members won awards. Brian Krewson placed 11th, Colin Smith placed 10th, and sixth-grader, Rishi Shukla, placed fifth.
Debate team advisor Dee Burek said the Stone Bridge team’s performance was amazing because it was short one member due to illness. This meant Rishi had to debate twice in every round.
Stone Bridge was awarded the second-place trophy for most team wins and was second in the tournament sweepstakes for the highest percentage of wins.
The team’s next debate is scheduled for March 16.

