Sue Jane Mayes, a 1974 graduate of Snyder High School who now teaches at Borden County, has coached winners Billy Roper and John Wilson for the last three years.
Roper and Wilson won the same division at state UIL competition last year.
“Debate is one event that started back in August. The tournaments began in September and the boys spent numerous weekends traveling lots of miles and that was after Friday night football,” said Mayes.
Roper and Wilson won four rounds of debate on Monday to advance to the elimination rounds on Tuesday. The pair went undefeated throughout the competition against a total of 54 teams.
“They qualified to attend the state finals in March and they were ready,” said Mayes. “They were really being noticed because they had won last year. Other teams had gotten better, but the boys had worked hard to improve too, so they were very competitive. All the work paid off and we’re very proud that they’ve taken the title for a second time.”
Billy Roper is the son of William and Juna Roper of Gale, and John Wilson is the son of Tim and Carol Wilson also of Gale.
Borden County’s other debate team of Tyler Wallace and Kyle Pinkerton finished Monday’s rounds with a 2-2 record.