schoolsthatrockGlenwood wins Coastal Debating. The Durban and Coastal Debating League concluded their 2021 season. Glenwood High School won the senior division.
The journey began for most of the team in 2017. They then were Grade 8 learners. They concluded with victory in 2021 as Grade 12 learners. Across that time period, these learners found themselves in three finals (Grade 8, 9, and 10). Unfortunately they came off worse all three times. The season saw them go into the final with zero losses. They intended to keep it that way. The learners put in a massive effort. Sentimentally so, as it was the last debate for four matrics. It has indeed been an honour and privilege to coach and learn about debating. Indeed alongside such a talented group of learners. It is only fitting that this story concludes on the best note possible.
Congratulations to the following learners:
Wesley van der Merwe – Captain
Mikhail Bassa
Teagan Reddy
Leshay Ramdhin
Tyler Ishler
Glenwood was also privileged to have individual speaker awards:
Wesley van der Merwe – second in Senior Category
Lwandile Nduku – fifth in Grade 8 Category
Glenwood has a rich debating history. It is dating back to 1937. However, it was only from 1968 that debating grew in leaps and bounds. Glenwood competed against, and more often than not, beating the best teams in the greater Durban area. In 1974 and 1995 the Senior team was unbeaten in the local debates. In 1979, 1985, and 1990 the Senior Team won the local Debating League.
Highlights of the 2000 year als included winning the Rotary Debating League. James Dray had been part of the KZN team that won the SA Schools Championships. In 2007 Glenwood won both the DCDL and KZNSDA competitions. It was a feat they repeated in 2008 and again in 2017. During this period both Daniel de Kadt (2003 and 2004) and Mark Schoeman (2007 and 2008) were selected for SA Schools.
Looking back over the years it is interesting to note that many of the School’s major winners of scholarships – Rhodes, Cecil Renaud, and Elsie Ballot Scholarships, for example, were also top debaters. Young men such as Darryl Lee, Gareth Amery, Frank Fincham, Murray Wesson, Alexis Sienaert, Andreas Cousodis, James Dray, and Simon Grest all went on to earn high-level scholarships. They all had indeed achieved debating accolades.
Report supplied by Mr Divesh Sookdeo (Glenwood old boy 2009 and current coach / staff member).
Read more on Glenwood High School:
https://schoolsthatrock.co.za/category/other-provinces/kwazulu-natal/kwazulu-natal-schools/
https://www.glenwoodhighschool.co.za/
Become a Sponsor
