The January-February national Lincoln-Douglas debate topic of “Resolved, Rehabilitation ought be valued above retribution in the Unites States Criminal System” has proven to be both challenging and rewarding to the Bainbridge High School Debate Team.

At the Federal Way Invitational Debate Tournament, held Jan. 18-19, the team had positive individual records.

In the Open/Varsity division, Jacob Reiter tallied four wins and two losses. James Maltman (sophomore) and Connor Powell (junior) posted identical three wins and three losses results.

Freshman Trista Hawley turned in an impressive performance in the Junior division.

In a field of 43 entrants, Hawley had a record of four wins, two losses – her best tournament results to date. The two defeats were to the eventual tournament winner Dino de Raad of Eastside Catholic and second-place finisher Alec Bellis of Gig Harbor.

At the University of Puget Sound Logger Invitational, held earlier in January, Maltman finished the Open/Varsity prelims 4-2 in a field of 51 competitors. He also participated in the final 16 bracket.

In the Junior division, Connor Powell had a prelim record of 5-1 and advanced to the semifinals.

Two events remain on the calendar for this year.

The Spartans face Eastside Catholic Feb 1. and Feb. 2, and then the team travels to Palo Alto, Calif. Feb. 8-11 for the Stanford Invitational.