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HR 205

Memorials, Recognition - Montgomery Bell Academy, 2026 Policy Debate Tournament of Champions -

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Bob Freeman

Montgomery Bell Academy’s debate team wins the 2026 Policy Debate Tournament of Champions, highlighting national excellence in Tennessee education.

Filed for introduction
#memorials #recognition
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Bill Summary · HR 205

Summary of HR 205 (Session 114, Tennessee)

Purpose and Intent

  • HR 205 is a House Resolution recognizing and honoring Coach Josh Clark and the Montgomery Bell Academy (MBA) debate team for winning the 2026 Policy Debate Tournament of Champions.
  • The resolution celebrates MBA’s national-level achievement, leadership, and the program’s contribution to educational excellence in Tennessee.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Formal commendation of:
    • Coach: Josh Clark (Director of Debate)
    • Debating Team: Montgomery Bell Academy
  • Notable achievements highlighted:
    • Won the 2026 Policy Debate Tournament of Champions, described as the most prestigious national championship in high school policy debate.
    • MBA seniors Russell Howard and Jimmy Li won the national title.
    • MBA teams achieved deep advancement: seniors Res Seibels and Oliver Johnston in semifinals; senior Fox Travis and junior Enno Brandes in quarterfinals.
    • Three MBA teams reached the national quarterfinals; one team advanced to semifinals and finished third nationally.
    • The program has previously won the Tournament of Champions in 1999 and 2020, with five final appearances in the past seven years.
    • The team was ranked as the number-one policy debate team in the nation for the season and earned The David P. Baker Award from the National Debate Coaches Association (NDCA), a premier season-long honor.
    • The team won five of seven major tournaments entered during the season.
  • Overall framing emphasizes character, intellectual rigor, leadership, and civic engagement fostered by MBA and Coach Clark.

Affected Parties

  • Primary: Montgomery Bell Academy and its debate team, including students (e.g., Russell Howard, Jimmy Li, Res Seibels, Oliver Johnston, Fox Travis, Enno Brandes) and coaching staff (Josh Clark).
  • Secondary: The broader Tennessee education community, which the resolution frames as exemplifying educational excellence and inspiration for Tennessee students.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Status: Filed for introduction on April 20, 2026.
  • Nature of remedy: A symbolic, ceremonial recognition (a House Resolution) rather than a law or policy change.
  • Next steps: If adopted, the resolution would be presented with an appropriate copy; no fiscal impact or regulatory changes are stated.

Additional Context

  • The resolution emphasizes MBA’s longstanding reputation and historic success in national policy debate.
  • It frames the achievement as contributing to Tennessee’s pride and commitment to educational excellence.

If you’d like, I can convert this into a concise one-page briefing or add a short glossary of terms (e.g., “Policy Debate Tournament of Champions,” “NDCA”) for non-expert readers.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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