Lawrence High School seniors Andres Ramos, left, and Doug Speight will compete at a national debate competition in June. The two are researching issues related to alternative energy.

Two Lawrence High School debate students are heading to a national tournament sponsored by the National Forensics League to argue against students from other top high schools.

And they weren’t exactly expecting to convince their way to the top.

“I’m really rather surprised,” said senior Doug Speight, who is in his third year of debate.

The qualifying tournament was double elimination. And both Speight and his partner, fellow senior Andres Ramos, thought they’d be out after round two.

“Most people at the national qualifying tournament have been in debate for four years,” said Ramos. “I’ve only been debating for two years. It was really a surprise.”

The topic this year centers on increasing incentives for alternative energy in the United States. And the duo have done their due research.

“That (the topic) has every representation that could be thought of,” said Speight. “Some people want to do carbon taxes. Some people want to do grants. … There’s a thousand different iterations of it.”

Ramos and Speight have a giant box full of information on the issue, both for and against adding incentives to get people to use fewer fossil fuels in the United States.

“We have to get everything because there’s always going to be that one case that you’re not expecting and there’s going to be some weird file somewhere in the box that you can use,” said Ramos.

Lawrence High debate coach and teacher Jeff Plinsky is sending his second team in three years to nationals.

“It takes a lot of hard work and some luck, and we’ve had a fair measure of both,” he said.

The last team to qualify was one judge short of continuing on in the competition. The team must convince eight out of 12 judges over six rounds. Each round has two judges.

Speight and Ramos say their argumentative tendencies are family traits.

“(My mom) was sick of arguing with me and thought I should argue with other people,” said Speight.

The boys are now preparing for the national competition, which will be in June in Birmingham, Ala.

“I’ve got six months, so let’s hope that’s enough time,” said Speight.

Ramos thinks the team has a good shot. “We both are willing to work on it,” he said.

Plus, the debaters enjoy getting up and presenting their arguments.

“Debate really is, I think, one of the more growth-inspiring classes I’ve ever taken,” said Speight. “And probably one of the most beneficial.”

Ramos credits his improvement in public speaking to learning how to debate. “It also helps me work things out logically in my head.”