Debate teams dominate National Qualifiers

For the second year in a row, SPA teams earn all three spots.

National+Qualifiers+pose+with+their+plaques+and+their+coach+at+the+Dec.+9+tournament.

Submitted Photo: Tom Fones

National Qualifiers pose with their plaques and their coach at the Dec. 9 tournament.

What does it feel like to sweep the top three spots in the district and qualify for nationals? SPA Debaters Adnan Askari and Ben Konstan could tell you — twice.  They, along with juniors Olivia McCauley and Kieran Singh and sophomores Sameer Bijwadia and Liam Will, celebrated this achievement at the National Qualifiers Tournament on Dec. 9.

The teams ranks:
1) Olivia McCauley-Kieran Singh- juniors
2) Adnan Askari-Ben Konstan- seniors
3) Sameer Bijwadia- Liam Will- sophomores
According to Director of Debate Tom Fones, “Since 2011, 12 of the 18 two-person teams qualifying in our district have been from SPA.”
The National Speech and Debate Association national tournament will be held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida June 18-22, 2018.