The Mt. Hope High School Debate Club squad vied in its initial Rhode Island Forensic League tournament of the 2024-25 term on Saturday, Nov. 16, at Classical High in Providence.

The MHHS group competed against dozens of other student-debaters representing 12 clubs from schools around the state.

Mt. Hope senior captain Millie Piper entered the tournament as an “Iron Woman,” meaning she debated as an individual against teams of two at the varsity level. Piper won first place in both the team/tandem event and as an individual, which advisor Neale Ross called "an extraordinary feat for parliamentary debate."

"Millie is not only an exceptional debater, but she is also an extraordinary leader and mentor to her teammates," Ross, a Social Studies teacher at MHHS, added.

In addition, every member of the Mt. Hope club won or tied at least one of the three rounds in which they debated.

As well, sophomore duo of Addison McMillan and Vivienne Noonan placed eighth in the novice team competition, winning all three rounds.

Ross termed their effort "a massive achievement, especially when you consider these students were debating for the first time ever at the high school level."

Of Mt. Hope's performance overall at the Classical competition, Ross said, "This is a young team, mostly made up of freshmen who were competing in their very first high school tournament...I couldn't be prouder of this team and look forward to building on our success at our next tournament."

Mt. Hope actually hosts the next RIFL tournament on Saturday morning, Dec. 14, beginning at 9 o'clock. The event takes place all over the building with over 50 debates taking place throughout the day.