Isaac Hoch and Cooper Rich are the best of friends now. But it didn’t start out that way.
“Oh, we didn’t get along,” said Rich of their freshman year in debate class at Athens High School.
They each had different partners that year, but when they returned for their sophomore years, only one other debater from the previous year had returned. So Hoch and Rich, members of the class of 2025, teamed up in October of their sophomore year.
“There was no personal connection at first,” recalled Hoch. “So we had to mutually agree we really liked winning, and that was the basis of our partnership.”
And win is exactly what they did, kicking off one of the most successful debate teams Athens High School has seen in its storied history. But that wasn’t the only positive result.
Midway through their sophomore year, “I decided this guy’s pretty cool,” said Rich. “… By the end of our junior year, I decided he’s probably my best friend.”
“We were spending about 36 hours a week together, which meant it was functionally a full time job and we were co-workers,” deadpanned Hoch. “Now, there’s no one I’m closer to.”
In March, Hoch and Rich claimed their second straight state championship in CX debate. (CX stands for cross-examination, a two-on-two policy debate format.) The win cemented Athens High School’s position among the top 15 winningest CX debate programs in the state of Texas — across ALL conferences, not just 4A.
Their shared achievements also include being octofinalists at UIL State in 2022 and bronze medalists in 2023; advancing to elimination rounds at both the University of Texas Tournament and Texas Forensics Association State Tournament in 2024; and qualifying three times for the National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) Tournament, competing in both policy and congressional debate.
Speech and debate team coach Will Honea said of Hoch, “I have never met a debater in my life that is so dedicated to being successful. … He treats every competition like it is the last he will ever have.”
And of Rich: “Cooper has served as president of the debate team for three years and helped grow the program. … Without his assistance with recruitment, practice scheduling and hosting our own tournaments, I couldn't have done it. His leadership has been invaluable.”
The two debate phenoms shine individually as well.
Hoch has eight UIL state medals to his name across three events (policy and congressional debate and informative speaking); Golden Gavel winner (2023 and 2025) and Silver Gavel winner (2024); UIL silver medalist in congressional debate (2025), 4th (2025) and 6th (2023) in informative speaking; 6th in congressional (2024); and he ranks second in AHS debate history for the number of NSDA honor points he has, with 2,086. (Class of 2014 graduate Madalyn Mikkelsen still holds the top NSDA point total for AHS at 2,189.)
Rich was named an Academic All-American by the NSDA, the first such AHS recipient since 2019; was a UIL bronze medalist in 2023 and octofinalist in 2022; served as senior class treasurer and National Honor Society president; and is ranked ninth all-time at AHS for NSDA honor points, with 1,614.
Both Rich and Hoch credit debate for propelling them closer to their career goals. Rich will study industrial engineering with plans to eventually refine distribution systems for companies. Hoch will study economics and energy systems with an eye toward becoming an urban planner.
“Cities need to be better designed to sustain growth,” said Hoch. “I’ve come to understand that because of all the travel we did for debate.”
Rich credits Athens ISD for making the debate program accessible to all students.
“AHS debate is one of the most well-supported programs in East Texas,” said Rich. “I can’t think of another high school that has the same support [for students] we do.”