A team from Murrumbidgee Regional High School will be aiming to take out the title as the top debaters in the state.
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The school's years 7/8 debate team will be heading to Sydney as one of the 10 state finalists for their 2019 Premier's Debating Challenge division.
Arguing on the negative side for 'fast food companies should pay compensation to people for health damage', the side managed to claim the Riverina title with a nail-biting win over Wagga High and as a result will be returning the school to the state finals since 2010 - back when they operated under the Griffith High School name.
The team's debating coach Libby Ridgway said the side had done well to go two stages further than their run last year and no matter how they end up going, they have done the school proud.
"There were 410 teams enrolled at the start of this competition," Ms Ridgway said.
"That's a pretty impressive achievement [to get to the finals] even if we don't get any further then where we are right now."
Debater Raisa Cabahug said the side were shocked when they booked their spot in this year's finals, having gone down by a single point in last year's regional semi-finals.
"We were just happy to get to this stage, because last year... it deflated us from our defeat," she said.
The team will be out to show they can mix it with their metro compatriots and they believe they are heading into the finals as the underdogs.
"Because we're a regional town here, it's also an opportunity to go to Sydney and show off our debating skills," Raisa said.
"We don't get the same debating workshops or opportunities as the Sydney schools do."
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However, the team is looking to gain more than just bragging rights when they head to Sydney, with the team also aiming to take a bite into one of their victory traditions after the finals - a Krispy Kreme donut.
The team will kick off their quest for the title on December 3, with five debates scheduled over two days.
If the side is successful in heading through to the final four, they will compete in the semi-final on December 4 before heading to the final on December 5, which will be able to be viewed online.
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