Upper School Debate Competes in National and State Tournaments

Poly’s Upper School Debate team recently competed in several national and state tournaments, capping off a successful season. Across the country, more than 5,000 high schools and 100,000 students participate in debate, with Poly consistently competing against nationally-ranked opponents.

Four students qualified for the Tournament of Champions in Lexington, Kentucky, placing Poly among just 37 nationwide teams invited to compete. The team included Clive B. ’26, Xiya S. ’26, Alejandro K. R. ’26, and Daniel I. ’26. Alejandro and Daniel earned seventh- and ninth-place finishes, respectively, in speaker awards—ranking them among the top World Schools debaters in the nation. The World Schools format is considered the most international style of debate, bringing together teams from across the globe.

In the Parliamentary Debate division, partners William P. ’28 and Finn T. ’28 competed at the National Parliamentary Debate League Tournament of Champions in San Diego. In this format, competitors earn “ballots” by persuading judges to affirm their position. William and Finn delivered a strong performance, finishing in the top 20 out of 66 teams nationwide. Finn shared, “To me, it felt a bit intimidating, but this is the second time I have gone, so I felt confident. I didn’t really expect to win, so my goal was always just to do better than last year, and I think we definitely achieved that.”

At the California High School Speech Association state tournament in Union City, a competitive field from more than 500 teams from across the state vied to qualify. Jack L. ’27 and Kaya C.-Z. ’27 competed as a two-person team as part of the top 64 statewide in parliamentary debate.

Preparation for these tournaments was rigorous. Students participated in twice-weekly online debates against other schools and their coaches, sharpening both their analytical and rhetorical skills. World Schools competitors needed to stay deeply informed on current events, with topics ranging from geopolitical conflict to digital policy issues like region locking. Parliamentary debaters tackled equally complex subjects, including housing policy and international relations in the Balkans, dedicating countless hours to research and preparation.

Reflecting on the season, Coach Michael Murray shared a meaningful interaction: “One of my favorite moments was driving back from San Diego with Will and Finn. They asked, ’How can we do better next year, coach? What are the next steps?’ They weren’t deterred at all—they were focused on improving. That was probably my proudest moment—not just that they competed, but that they were already thinking about how to be even more successful.”

Looking ahead, Kara K. ’27 and Ryan K. ’28 will represent Poly at the 101st National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) National Championship, June 14–19, in Richmond, Virginia. The NSDA tournament is the longest-running national championship in the country, celebrating its 100th anniversary last year.

“It’s really prestigious to make these tournaments,” said Michael. “Qualifying alone means you are among the top competitors in your event. It’s a huge accomplishment just to be there.”