He Was a Db8er Boy

Many debaters whose teams compete solely on their local circuits have yearned to debate on a higher level. Matt Fleharty should be a role model for anyone who has been in that predicament. The man from Oklahoma has amassed an impressive record while competing independently, racking up three TOC bids and an array of impressive awards.

In this exclusive VBD interview, Matt reflects on what it is like to compete independently on the national circuit, talks about working with Mike Bietz at summer camp, shares advice to those who find themselves in similar circumstances, and even attempts to explain away the origin of his titillating AIM screen name, ShyDb8Stud9.

He’s not shy.

Jon Cruz: What attracted you to debate?

Matt Fleharty: Originally my mom forced me into the class and I wasn’t very happy about that. After a few informal rounds I realized I wasn’t half bad and I started enjoying the activity and just decided to stick with it.

JC: How would you describe your earliest debate experiences? Did your team travel?

MF: I was very, lets say, “passionate.” Actually, to be honest, I was very forceful, demanding, and rude. I was the type of debater who would say “It’s a yes or no question, therefore I want a yes or no answer!”

JC: [laughs] I totally know what you mean…although it’s kind of hard to imagine you being rude!

Did your team travel?

MF: We took one trip every year. My freshman year our team went to Harvard. I couldn’t afford it and since that year we were never allowed to go back because my old coach (Ms. Patterson) pierced her eyebrow while she was down there. Since then my new coach (Mr. Wilson, who has coached me since sophmore year) took us to St. Marks each year. Thankfully this year, Chris Davis has been kind enough to coach me and take me to tournaments as well as make sure I am prepared for them. Without him I would probably have been improving my cases at most of the tournaments this year.

JC: Speaking of Chris, how did he become your coach?

MF: Well, it is kind of weird that it happened, because while Chris was still debating we debated on opposite sides of the state, so there was limited interaction between the two of us. When he finally came to the State tournament last year (which is on my side of the state), it was kind of exciting because everyone had heard he was a really good debater. (He paid me to say that.) Anyways, we got to talking and I told him that I really wanted to try my hand at the national circuit, and that I was thinking about going to camp, which is really uncommon for Oklahoma debaters. So then a few weeks later I got an Instant message from him and he told me that during his senior year the head of the speech department had fired the LD coach, forced his teammates to quit, and tried to get him to quit. Chris really felt like it was important for successful debaters to have a supportive coach and people to work on debate with, and he said he didn’t want that to happen to me. So he offered to take me to tournaments, explain some advanced LD theory that I had never really understood, and help me develop cases. I accepted.

JC: That’s awesome. It must have been really exciting.

MF: Of course, I was ecstatic! (He’s paying me to say that too!)

JC: So, before we move on, I have to ask: when did you make your screen name? [ShyDb8Stud9]

MF: Ha ha, I made it the middle of my sophomore year if I remember correctly. I’m definitely not the most creative person in the world so I had a lot of trouble coming up with it. I just decided to incorporate different things about me: “shy” because at the time I was extremely shy, “db8″ because I was/am a debater and “stud9″ because everyone put things like that with a number.

JC: “Things like that”?

MF: Ya, like “soccercuti” or “superpimp,” it was just a fad.

JC: Sure. Speaking of cuties, pimps, and studs, there’s a question your admiring fans want to know. Boxers or briefs?

[pause]

MF: Is this really going on VBD…or is this just some elaborate bet to see if I will actually reveal it?

JC: I swear! John McNeil had to comment on Mike Bietz’s preschool photos. Anything goes on VBD. So ‘fess up!

MF: Oh its fine, they are boxers! I was never to fond of tighty whiteys.

JC: Tsk, tsk. We at Victory Briefs would have hoped for, well, briefs. And just because you’re prompting me to ask, and this seems like a good segue way, who are some of your favorite female debaters?

MF: Ha ha, you know that is a dangerous subject Jon!

But, there are some that I am especially fond of: Rachel Kaplan, Tisha Vaidya, Tatiana Cottam, Neha Gupta, Julie…gosh, I can’t remember her last name if my life depended on it, but she was at camp and the Crestian with me! I’m sure I’m leaving someone out and for that I am sorry…

JC: There you have it, ladies and gentlemen. Straight from ShyDb8Stud9 himself. And Julie Bills, if you’re out there, clearly you want to get in contact with this boy.

But anyway…back to business. Obviously your self-aware studliness has helped you do so incredibly. Where would you mark the start of your career really taking off?

MF: That’s a tough one…

JC: Granted, there might not have been any real date. To be frank, many people think you’ve been great all along, so your more recent success only seemed like natural progression.

MF: Well, before I went to camp and Chris started coaching me, the only way I learned to debate was from watching good debaters on my local circuit and doing what they did. This method gave me a decent amount of local success in my first three years as a debater, but I didn’t really take off until I went to camp, where [Mike] Bietz helped polish my skills, and Chris started helping me extensively. So I would probably have to say everything finally came together at Greenhill this year, where I was a quarterfinalist.

JC: Needless to say, that was the first of many successes. Four bids for a debaters who competes independently of his team is incredible. Is your team supportive of you at home, or do you find the balance tough?

MF: Well, unless the Seminole Classic is a semis bid this year, of which I wasn’t aware, it is three bids.

JC: Ouch. Okay, fine, you got me back for the boxers or briefs question. Three bids. I guess I just think you’re a better debater than you actually are.

MF: Ouch! That hurts, Jon.

JC: Kidding, kidding. Anyway, what was it like working with Bietz?

MF: Thankfully I have had the opportunity to work with him twice and I have to say that both times it was incredibly helpful. He should charge money (at least $100) and sell his “2AR case writing” lecture and he would be a multi-billionaire. The man is not overrated; in fact I think he is still underrated! But working with him was amazing! He made the environment fun, he had us do fun drills. All around it was just a great experience that every debater should have and I think the success of his kids attest to how great he is. (In other words, go to VBI, because he’s now exclusive to that camp.)

JC: Awesome. He’s definitely the man.

MF: Ya, I think Victor’s best move (besides hiring Duby) was getting Bietz exclusively for VBI.

JC: Sigh, I guess hiring me wasn’t a good move.

MF: Ha ha, don’t underrate yourself Jon, this community definitely needs more people like you in it!

JC: Well, thank you. Bietz is the man. Duby’s the man. Apparently I’m the man. You’re also the man. What was your most exciting accomplishment thus far?

MF: Well going into this year my goal was to get at least one bid to the TOC. So when I got my first one at Greenhill I was extremely excited. However, finally getting my full qualification for TOC at St. Marks was awesome too so it would have to be a tie between the two.

JC: Do you find the balance between team and travel tough?

MF: The balance is difficult because, to my knowledge, this is the first time in Putnam City history for someone to travel independently. Sometimes, a few of my teammates think I am too cocky or overconfident as a result of my success. But thankfully, there are those like Ryan Spencer (a teammate/friend of mine who has begged me to mention his name in this interview) who are very supportive of what I do and have done.

JC: There are a lot of people out there who read VBD but haven’t had the opportunity to travel out of their local circuit. I’ll be frank and say that I think you’re probably a real role model to many debaters. Do you have any advice for debaters who find themselves in a similar predicament?

MF: Chris Davis can be reached at….

JC: [laughs]

MF: But seriously, that’s nice of you to say, but I also think there are others that have traveled nationally independently and done quite well. I am pretty sure that last year’s TOC champion, Andrew Garvin traveled independently, and this year Eric Palmer has also been doing quite well. But to answer your question, it just comes down to how much you want it. I know that there are people all over the nation who are willing to “adopt” a debater like Chris did for me and travel with you/coach you. Sure financial considerations are a pain in the a$$, but that’s why you pick your tournaments wisely and even ask for aid from your school or do independent fund raising. Once again, it all comes down to how much you want it and how far you will go to reach your goals.

JC: I know I’ve joked around a bit in this interview, but I’m not joking when I say that you should be really proud of yourself and your accomplishments. You’ve been doing an incredible job, and it’s only more impressive given your circumstances.

MF: Thanks, Jon!

JC: Do you now prefer national or local circuit debate?

MF: After this year I really enjoy debating on the national circuit more for numerous reasons. I love the post round constructive criticisms (and I definitely don’t mind the disclosures) and that is something that wouldn’t happen in Oklahoma unless hell froze over. I also enjoy the atmosphere at the tournaments and how efficient they are run along with the competition. In fact, I don’t think there is a thing I dislike about any of the national circuit tournaments…except the cost.

JC: What’s your favorite resolution thus far?

I really enjoyed the privileged communication resolution because of all the good debates I had on it since I competed nationally a lot on that topic (and I wouldn’t be fooling anyone to say I didn’t enjoy the bit of success I had on it.) Theoretically, I liked the oppressive government vs. no government resolution simply because it was a fun topic to debate and research.

JC: Aside from me interviewing you, what’s the coolest thing anyone has ever done for you?

MF: Oh that question is almost too easy Jon!

I’ve had a lot of great things done for me, but the one that tops the list is when my best friend, Ankur, wrote a song for me and sung it for me.

JC: What was the song about, dare I ask?

MF: Well, it’s a funny/sad story actually, but my girlfriend at the time cheated on me four times and I was too ignorant to break up with her so instead of telling me normally to do it (because that obviously didn’t work) he wrote a song and got to me through it. It was undoubtedly the coolest thing anyone has ever done for me.

JC: What’s your pick for the ultimate debate pump-up song?

Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle”! It doesn’t get much better than that for me…the lyrics really hit me deep. Other general pump-up songs that I enjoy are “Eye of the Tiger,” and “Hearts on Fire.”

JC: Ooo, Survivor! I love “Eye of the Tiger.” And, just for the Paul Schiano and Steph Bells of the world, what’s your favorite hand in Texas Hold ‘Em?

MF: That’s a silly question Jon…I always hope for a 2, 7…off suited of course.

JC: And besides Hold ‘Em, what else do you do when you’re not debating?

MF: You mean to tell me that there is life outside of debate Jon? I think this interview just became more of a revelation for me than it has you!

Actually I like running (I still haven’t figured out why yet.) I also enjoy hanging out with my friends, watching/playing sports, and spending my evenings watching Law and Order!

JC: That’s awesome.

As I’ve said a bajillion times, I know a lot of people are impressed by how you’ve done, and I think you’re a role model to independent travelers everywhere. But, it’s probably time to wrap up. I know you’re getting tired…it’s past your bedtime.

MF: Well my bedtime is 9:00. (I just lost a lot of credibility right there Jon, thanks.) Actually, since I am in track I have to wake up early to run so going to bed early gets me in the routine of waking up on time. And if you ask any of my friends I hardly ever sleep in unless I am sick.

JC: That’s nuts! Maybe that’s the secret to your success. You’re actually conscious for 8:00 AM prelim rounds.

MF: Shh, don’t tell anyone or you might decrease my chances of breaking at TOC.

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