A champ who can argue the toss

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BEST: Don't pick an argument with Jennifer Savage - she is the best student debater in the world. The Wanganui student won the title at the World Schools' Debating Champs, held in the US.

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Don't pick an argument with Jennifer Savage - she is the best student debater in the world.

The 18-year-old Wanganui Collegiate student won the title at the World Schools' Debating Champs, held in the United States over the past 10 days.

She had the highest average from eight preliminary rounds, beating 116 competitors.

It was some consolation for the Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools' Debating Team, which dominated the competition but lost narrowly to England in the final.

"We were really pleased and surprised about how well the team did. Someone said to me 'you can't be disappointed at getting a silver medal'," Ms Savage said.

She arrives back in New Zealand with the rest of the team tomorrow, and will face final exams before pursuing a career in journalism.

Other New Zealand team members also performed well, with Ben Kornfeld, of King's College in Auckland, named second best speaker, and Holly Jenkins, of Sacred Heart College, Lower Hutt, ranked fourth.

The team was captained by Maria English, daughter of National Party deputy leader Bill English.

- © Fairfax NZ News