Debaters of the Day: Tarun Galagali & Catherine Tarsney

Tarun Galagali and Catherine Tarsney

LOS ANGELES, Cali. – As part of VBD’s “Debaters of the Day” feature, I conclude each evening with a profile of two upstanding young students at the Victory Briefs Institute. Today, we turn to a Minnesotan and a Californian — Tarun Galagali and Catherine Tarsney — and subject them to the VBD interview treatment.

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TARUN GALGALI
Affiliation: Monta Vista High School (California)
Coaches: Sharon Prefontaine
Class: 2009 (Rising Junior)
NFL Degree: Honor
Lab: Lewis/Aks

How did you first get involved in debate?

After basketball practice, my teammates and I sat on the ledge of our school waiting for our parents. Next to us, we saw a couple of kids staring at a wall and speaking. My friends snickered, I joined them at first, but then I walked up and I asked those peculiar kids what exactly they were doing. And so began my introduction into debate.

What is your proudest achievement in debate thus far?

It’s funny because this is so going to be juxtaposed with Catherine. But in this first year of mine, there’s one thing that’s pretty sweet. I don’t think it qualifies much for an achievement, but what the heck. At Voices Round Robin, I managed to adapt to a panel of Prashant Rai and a local judge from a county college nearby.

It was a highly technical and an extremely fast round, and I was sure that my speed disgusted the local judge. Any hope of picking up both ballots had diminished. I was scared, but my gut just told me to go with what I was doing. To my pleasant surprise, the local judge said that the he didn’t like either of us, but his decision was based upon what Prashant said. I picked up both. I love debate.

What are your hobbies beyond debate?

One of my life long passions has been and always will be basketball. (Laker fan through and through.) I enjoy reading long novels, hanging out with my closest friends and speaking in French with them, and running each night until it gets really chilly and the stars are out.

What are your main goals for VBI@LMU?

My main goals for VBI@LMU are improving my word economy, writing more positional cases, and learning to debate with better strategy.

What is your favorite thing about camp thus far?

I can’t isolate one thing. But I suppose it’d have to be Socrates Hours; I really like how all the instructors are so accessible and they can help you with anything. Oh, and I also like the third floor reading lounge on that a few of my friends and I do our work in. It’s really nice when even at 2:30 AM, we have a working atmosphere and great camaraderie.

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CATHERINE TARSNEY

Affiliation: St. Louis Park High School (Minnesota)
Coach: Christian Tarsney, Heather Hamilton, Nick Tourville, and Nathan Abell
Class: 2010 (Rising Sophomore)
NFL Degree: Excellence
Lab: Clancy/Conrad/McGough

How did you first get involved in debate?

My brother was on the team and forced me to join.

What is your proudest achievement in debate thus far?

Getting to quarters of Emory and completing my TOC qual.

What are your hobbies beyond debate?

I don’t really do anything else — I used to be involved in sports and music, but debate keeps me from having the time for any of that.

What are your main goals for VBI@LMU?

Umm…I want to learn how to win more.

What is your favorite thing about camp thus far?

The day in Santa Monica.

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