Congratulations to Austin Kiihnl and Eleanora Lawrence for making it to the quarters of the prestigious Southern Bell Forum and receiving their first bid to the Kentucky Tournament of Champions! The last time a Caddo Magnet High School team won a bid to the prestigious Tournament of Champions was in 2015 (Alden Connor and Calen Martin).

No Magnet team has made it to the quarterfinals since 2005, and it’s been even longer since a non-senior team has distinguished itself on the nationals stage to this extent. It has been 24 years since a non-senior Magnet team won any elimination rounds at the Montgomery Bell Academy Forum (the school Dead Poet’s Society is based on and host to one of the nation’s most competitive debate tournaments). Jonathan McCartney put this achievement into perspective, reminding us that the last time this happened, it was the “dawn of dial up internet, America Online, and You’ve Got Mail.” Pearl Jam and Stone Temple Pilots dominated and “mid-90’s rappers like Tupac” were “in their prime.” Since 1986 only five CMHS teams have made it to the MBA quarterfinals at this tournament!

In addition to making it to the quarterfinal round, Eleanora won an award for 8th overall speaker.

We wish “Team KL” the very best at next weekend’s tournament at the University of Houston where they hope to receive their second bid to the TOC.