120 teams compete at the JUDL Middle Grade #2 Tournament NEWARK, NJ - Nearly 120 teams competed at the Jersey Urban Debate League's second middle school tournament at West Side High School on Dec. 17, 2011. The winter tournament featured new schools Oliver Street and McKinley Elementary. Luis Munoz Marin Elementary also entered their first debate tournament of the season with a new coach.

The two newest schools went home with winning records. Oliver Street had teams place 4th (Danny Rodriguez and Viridiana Villasenor) and 19th (Sabrianna Devia and Karina Gonzalez), while McKinley placed 8th (Evanyz Hernandez and Maria Heredia), 11th (Kelly Fernandez and Sharlene Vasquez), and 33rd (Zaakiyah Colson and Jibreel Campbell).

Oliver Street is the newest elementary school to join the league with seasoned debate coach and 7th grade mathematics teacher, Glinys Caceres. The schools principal, Javier Nazario convinced Caceres to coach for Oliver. Although she was coaching for University, Kurt Shelton took over and she started the Oliver team.

"My first goal is to target more grades and increase the size of the debate team. I want to start them at 5th grade, so when they get to 9th grade they are well-prepared.

Oliver Street had three participating teams beginner teams.

"I loved debate and maybe I'll get someone else to love it like I loved it."

McKinley Elementary debate coach and 8th literacy teacher, Sandra Cruz said that she approached her Principal Carolyn Granato, who then approached Program Adminsistrator Militza Diaz about having a middle school program at the school.

"We joined because we were looking for an outlet for students who are well-spoken and scholars, so debate was a great alternative for the students," Cruz said.

She said that she has a group of mostly eight 8th grade students that attend the after-school meetings regularly. She said that she wants to approach 5-7th graders but they seem intimated by the workload.

At the last tournament three of her four teams won at least one round but this time her three teams had winning records - the top were undefeated.

"They students are actually very excited," Cruz said. "They were nervous at first but they enjoy the ideas and are seeing the validity of the arguments. Their goal is to win two rounds at this tournament – they are motivated to do well. I see the students are becoming more confident speakers and their arguments are becoming stronger. I'm really happy with what I see the students becoming."

At this tournament Luis Munoz Marin Elementary Schools coaching duties were taken over by Theresa Palumbo. She volunteered for the position since the school needed a new coach. She said she thought it would fitting for her, since she's a Language Arts teacher.

Palumbo said she has a group of nine 6th-8th graders on the debate team.

"They keep wanting to talk about solar-powered roofs not solar-based satellite power in space and have some vocabulary problems, and not a strong science background, but it's definitely something to help the students in all academic subjects, social skills and speaking skills," she said.

The next middle school tourament is Jan. 21, 2012.