After what Coach Ronald Mills calls "a good year," the Maine West Debate Team will finish their season next month. The last tournaments will be the Illinois Speech and Theatre Association State Tournament and the Illinois High School Association sectional.

Maine West's top varsity twosome of Tom Stone '79 and Doug Strand '79 currently has a record of 19 wins and 8 losses. Steve Hines '80, Maine West's other varsity debater, has broken even for the season with a record of 14‑14. The possibility of greater success for Steve has been thwarted due to the lack of an experienced partner. However, he has done well on at least two occasions, one at Maine East in which he debated with Tom Stone and another at Wheaton North with Ron Wastyn '81 as his partner.

Ron Wastyn '81 is normally part of what has been an exceptionally active novice team. Ron currently has a record of 22-16 and shares his winning record with novice debaters Jim Teevens '81, Mike Chiropolos '81, and Bob Amstadt '82.

Other novice debaters are Terry Corcoran '81, Ditas Ramilo '82, and Gina Crespo '79. With such an unusually large novice team Maine West should have a larger varsity team within the next few years.

Assisting the team this year have been Head Coach Mills and Assistant Coach Harriet Naden. Mr. William Hoag and Mrs. Suzanne Kehe have provided their services in judging and transportation. Mr. Charles Powers has also been of help through his expertise on this year's energy topic.

Although it has been a good debate year, the team has had its share of problems, too. Just recently all of Tom Stone's evidence was lost. The greatest problem for the team, according to Coach Mills, is the lack of an experienced coach who can devote the necessary time to the development of a top‑notch team. Coach Mills believes that if this leadership problem were overcome, the Maine West Debate Team would be as good as that of any other school.