Persisting: Reflections on the TOC
By: Jessa Glassman
TOC.
3 letters, meaningless to the majority of the world, but foundational to national circuit debaters. Before we even knew how to properly assemble our table totes, we knew this acronym. And we knew that making it to the promised land (the University of Kentucky) would mean we were finally “good” at debate.
For many debaters, the process of qualifying to the Tournament of Champions is marked by tons of rebuttal redoes, late nights at debate camps and flowing rounds online. To get there, it takes getting smacked by the best person in the pool and RFDs that roast you into oblivion. It takes that one friendly kid round 3 who tells you they genuinely enjoyed debating you. It takes dedication, perseverance and patience. But, once you’re there, you’re there.
I can’t say that I felt magic in the halls of Funkhouser Building. I can’t say that the tournament felt any different from any other tournament earlier in the year. Sure, more rounds were highly technical and won by a razor thin margin, but the hype around being a part of the crème de la crème of debaters around the nation wasn’t tangible.
To me, the TOC felt like a celebration of the year as a community-- a time when debaters from the east coast, west coast and everywhere in between could come together for real clash of civilization debates (we’re talking tricks and a prioris versus one off K debaters). For seniors, the TOC marked the end of high school debate careers. It was their last time debating, but it was also their last time doing the small things we take for granted every weekend: hanging out with teammates and coaches, Facebook messaging opponents to ask for the Aff, and asking “is anyone not ready” before clicking start on a timer. Of course there were moments of stress and sadness after losses, but as it became time for careers to end and people to give their last 2ARs ever, the atmosphere was largely happy and supportive.
The TOC should be thought of as the graduation ceremony for the debate season. It is a time when intense competitors become authentic friends and congratulate each other on an incredible career. It is a time when debaters can thank each other for stimulating and thought provoking rounds, or hug it out even after a fiery cross ex. It is the culmination of not just a year well done, but for many, a career of life changing moments.
It is understandable why such a large importance is placed on one weekend. After all, it is a championship. But, I believe that debate success should not be measured by just one tournament, one ballot, or a .2 difference between you and the top speaker. Instead, it should be predicated on your overall successes, how much you improved, and the lasting mark you made on the community.
Even though most of us won’t return to the University of Kentucky until just around a year from now, some of us won’t ever go back, and some of us are yet to make it there, it is time to reframe our community’s emphasis on the TOC. One weekend shouldn’t be thought of as the barrier between good and bad or success and failure, but rather the reward for hard work and investment into the activity.
The TOC will continue to be the holy grail of debate, no doubt. But, going into it more focused on enjoying the last few rounds of the season and the last few memories with your graduating seniors instead of with tunnel vision zeroed in on defining your career by winning every debate by any means possible will make it that much more significant for you and your debate journey.