DAMIEN WINS NATIONAL DEBATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Please join the law firm of SHERNOFF BIDART DARRAS ECHEVERRIA, LLP in
honoring the Damien High School debate team for winning the 2009 National
Championship.
Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009 6:00 PM
600 S. Indian Hill Boulevard
Claremont, CA 91711
RSVP to: vsanchez@sbdelaw.com
Damien High School debaters Sean Hernandez and Reid Ehrlich-Quinn took first place in policy debate at the National
Speech and Debate Tournament, sponsored by the National Forensic League, in Birmingham, Alabama, June 19. The duo
defeated a team from James Logan High School of Union City, California, in the championship debate, which was held at the
Birmingham Convention Center in front of an audience of several hundred competitors and coaches.
Two-hundred debate teams from throughout the nation began competition on Monday, June 15. After 15 rounds of
competition, spread over 4 days, 2 teams remained. The 2009 tournament marked the first time in the 71 year history of the
event that 2 California teams had met for the championship. Damien is the first Southern California high school since 1973 to
win the championship in policy debate.
Damiens achievement has already been celebrated throughout Southern California. Reid, Sean, and their coaches have
attended public commendations from the LA County Board of Supervisors, as well as the City Councils of Claremont and La
Verne. Their national title is the culmination of a three-year run in which Damien has emerged as the countrys dominant
debate powerhouse.
It was the only squad in the nation to qualify ten debaters to the Tournament of Champions. We look forward to
congratulating them at the reception, and hope to see you there.

All four debaters gave touching thank yous before their

constructive speeches. Sean was hilarious but restrained, as was
appropriate for the venue.

For Reid, excellent debate skills run in the family. His older brother,
Clinton, was ranked among the nations top debaters in 2007. And
their father, Jeffrey, was a two-time state finalist who would go on to
argue and win in the United States and California Supreme Court.

Reid and Sean were well prepared for the grueling competition
by their coaches: Chuck Ballingall, Justin Skarb, Chase
Patterson, Clinton Ehrlich-Quinn, and Nicholas Fiori.

Damien had the unenviable task of negating against a new

affirmative in the final round of NFL Nationals. Here they
are, huddling with their coaches in the final moments of
preparation.

SHERNOFF BIDART DARRAS ECHEVERRIA, LLP