The Fayette County High debate team finished third at the state debate tournament, despite predictions that they would fall short of a high ranking.

“The team had an awesome state tournament. The debate pollsters did not expect us to finish in the top six. We were very close to winning it all,” says assistant coach Chris McCord.

The team went 9-3 at the state tournament. They lost two very close rounds to state champion Brookwood High and split rounds against runner up Chattahoochee High, the two-time defending state champs.

Individual honors were awarded to Brittany Edmonds, fifth-place speaker; Rafiq Razuiddin, sixth-place speaker; Jeff Miller, eighth-place speaker; and Jaqueline Edelstein, ninth-place speaker.

The team is under the direction of head coach Beverly Kelly.