Emotional moment high school underdogs crowned ‘greatest of all’

A Brisbane state high school has trounced Queensland’s elite private schools to take out the top gong in a much coveted local competition.

A north Brisbane state high school has smashed three of Queensland’s elites to win the 2022 Year 12 Queensland Debating Union Grand Final.

In a classic underdog story, Kedron State High School beat Brisbane Girls Grammar, the state’s most prestigious and well-resourced school for girls, in the championship round on Wednesday night.

The Kedron State High School debating team. Picture: Supplied

It also trounced Brisbane Grammar School, the state’s most expensive school, the week before to earn its place in the grand final. And it knocked out Brisbane Boys’ College, another top-shelf private school, in the quarter-finals.

QDU program manager Tony Scarcella and Kedron State High School debating coordinator Ryan Taylor-Davis.

Incredibly, the Kedron team is coached by young alumni, with the senior debating team operating only in years when there is enough student interest to field a squad.

The resounding victory by students Hugo Hall, Bede House, Calvin Liu and Jack Turner was sealed in front of a packed auditorium at Somerville House, to the cheers of a raucous crowd.

The team had to pull out all stops to defeat Girls Grammar, but Jack Turner said their win over BBC the week before inspired them to “be the greatest of all”.

Kedron’s debating program has been gaining momentum over the last 10 years under the tutoring of senior English teacher Ryan Taylor-Davis, who has recruited former students to help make it sustainable.

Members of the 2021 Year 12 team – which reached the QDU semi-finals – returned to coach the current Year 12s while last year the seniors began coaching the junior teams.

The Kedron State High School debating team with principal Blair Hanna.