Any parent would be proud of his or her child's clenching a state title and going on to national competition in just about any activity.

But the victory is especially sweet for Steve Kennedy, Munster High School debate coach for the past 10 years and coach of his daughter, Eleanor.

Earlier this year, Eleanor and her partner, Jessica Hilbrich, became the 2008 Indiana State Policy Debate Champions, and will compete this summer in Las Vegas at the national tournament.

About 10 years ago, Steve's son, Andy, was active in policy debate when the program was threatened with closure by the resignation of a teacher unless a parent took on the duties.

A debater himself, Kennedy, a Munster attorney, later joined by his wife, Kathy, stepped up to the plate.

"As a kid, I loved debate," Steve Kennedy said.

"You get up at 6 a.m. on a Saturday morning, dress in a suit and get to act like an adult all day. I think it's a fantastic exercise for the kids in so many ways. They do research, learn to think on their feet, organize their ideas and deal with important issues of the day."

With two older children involved in Munster's speech and debate team, Kennedy wasn't sure if Eleanor would participate.

"Having my dad as coach was a big part of it," she said.

"After considering many things, I felt that policy debate would be the best use of my talents."

According to Kennedy, his daughter and her partner showed great promise as debaters from the time they entered high school. However, Eleanor tells a different story.

"Jessica and I didn't do well the first three meets," she said.

"But we won the fourth meet and decided we liked debate. Winning a debate round is extremely satisfying. In athletics, someone just might be a better athlete than you are. But in debate, you know you won, because you worked harder."

Eleanor credits capturing the state crown, a feat that even Munster High School, a forensics powerhouse, hasn't accomplished since 1991, with the debate meet being postponed because of weather. Her father was so nervous before the final round, he couldn't even watch.

"In those two weeks, we did a lot of work and felt very confident and prepared," she said.

"I've loved debating in high school, and I'm definitely going to miss it. But I don't think I will debate in college; it seems the right time for this to come to a close."

Hilbrich and Kennedy aren't the only winners on Munster's speech and debate team.

Carly Gibbs is the 2008 Indiana State Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking Champion. Gibbs has placed first in numerous speech events during her four-year career. She qualified for the National Tournament in 2006, 2007 and 2008. She placed in the final Super Senate at the 2008 State Debate Tournament and is the current president of the Munster High School Speech and Debate Team.

She also was named the Northwest National Forensic League District's student of the year. Gibbs, Kennedy and Hilbrich were among many honored at Munster's speech and debate banquet on May 13.

As for Steve Kennedy, when his daughter goes off to Washington and Lee University in the fall, he'll again be juggling a busy law practice while he shares duties involving after-school debate practices and 5 a.m. meet departures.

"I just really enjoy working with the kids," he said.

"I think debate is the best activity a kid can participate in during high school."