Hickman High School's Ethics Bowl team takes first in national tournament
A Hickman High School team is national champion in ethics.
The Hickman Ethics Bowl team traveled to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, over the weekend to participate in the national championship after winning the state championship. Hickman was one of 24 schools in the tournament.
After four preliminary rounds, Hickman was among the top eight teams going into the quarterfinals, with Hickman ranked fifth.
The competition was the opposite of intense, if one can even describe it as competition, participants said.
"It's like debate, but nice," is how coach Lou Kraxberger described Ethics Bowl.
The other coach is Caysea Dachroeden.
The teams had conversations about ethics issues, said Alex Fajen, Hickman senior.
"It was a lot of fun," Alex said. "We had a little dance party before each round. We weren't concerned with winning and that's what ended up happening."
One issue discussed was the transplantation of animal organs into humans. The team had the position that it shouldn't be allowed, but not because of public disapproval, Alex said.
"It creates a system that will always value human lives over animal lives," she said.
The final rounds were onstage and livestreamed.
Last year, the Hickman ethics bowl team finished 22nd in the nation, which was still a big achievement, said junior Surya Raghu.
"It's my first year in Ethics Bowl and it's just crazy to win first," Surya said. "Last year we were 22nd. I just couldn't believe it."
His fellow students applauded him when he walked into class. The team also received congratulations from the other teams at the airport, he said.
A comment by Alex had an impact on him, Surya said.
"She said 'everyone's just dudes. They're not scary people.'"
The dancing before the rounds lightened the mood for everyone and other teams often joined them, said Atticus Radcliffe, Hickman sophomore.
"I think it allows for great ethical conversations casually," Atticus said of Ethics Bowl.
Kraxberger, a 2018 Hickman graduate, inspired the dancing, team members said.
When she was on the team, Kraxberger said they had a little routine to Olivia Newton-John's "Let's Get Physical," replacing "Let's Get Physical" with "Let's Get Ethical."
The team developed a system of nonverbal communication for Ethics Bowl using hand signals that she finds herself using in class without any effect, said Carly Christiansen, sophomore.
They also had a small timer that helped them, team members said. The rules allow it, but no other team appeared to have one.
Sophomore Crimson McDonald was on an alternate team and didn't go, but she said she sent her positive energy to the team.
"It was really great," Crimson said. "I just love what Ethics Bowl does."
Others on the team are sophomore Bailey Moore and junior Clementine Buehler.
The Hickman team thwarted teams from schools that have an ethics curriculum, including many private and charter schools. It was somewhat satisfying to take top prize over a private school in Los Angeles with $50,000-a-year tuition, Alex said.
Roger McKinney is the Tribune's education reporter. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on X at @rmckinney9.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Hickman High School Ethics Bowl team wins national championship
