The Heritage speech and debate team captured first place in the team sweepstakes at the Blue Key Tournament at the University of Florida, with senior Zayn Charania and sophomore Gabriella Otero winning their events.
A select group of students competed in a round robin-style competition, in which the top competitors were invited a day early to challenge others in their respective events. Sophomore Archith Venkat secured 12th place in Congressional Debate and senior Zayn Charania won the Lincoln Douglas Debate Round Robin, marking a strong start to the weekend for the team.
The rest of the team reached Gainesville Oct. 30, and immediately launched into preparing for the preliminary rounds Oct. 31. From practicing speeches to writing arguments for debate cases, students worked with coaches and peers to get ready for the tournament.
Awards took place Nov. 2 after three extensive days of competing. Reaching elimination rounds in almost every event, the team awaited final round results with anticipation. Coming away with first place in Program Oral Interpretation by sophomore Gabriella Otero, second place in Humorous Interpretation by junior Izyk Pombar, second place in Informative Speaking by senior Lindsay Brasner, second place in Varsity Lincoln Douglas Debate by senior Zayn Charania, second place in Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate by junior Sofia Barrera and several other individual awards, it was a dominant weekend for the team.
The comprehensive results are as follows:
Dramatic Interpretation:
- Freshman Madeline Zhuravel – Semifinalist
Duo Interpretation:
- Freshmen Siyona Nayana and Inica Kaushal – 4th
Humorous Interpretation
- Junior Izyk Pombar – 2nd
Impromptu Speaking
- Sophomore Tanush Sajja – Semifinalist
- Sophomore Halle Bank – Semifinalist
- Junior Shreyas Baghel – Quarterfinalist
- Junior Aanya Jain – Quarterfinalist
Informative Speaking
- Senior Lindsay Brasner – 2nd
- Sophomore Halle Bank – Semifinalist
- Sophomore Tanush Sajja – Quarterfinalist
- Freshman Siyona Narang – Quarterfinalist
Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate
- Junior Sofia Barrera – 2nd
- Freshman Samay Arora – Quarterfinalist and Top Speaker
Original Oratory
- Sophomore Tidyan Baazi Pujol – Semifinalist
- Sophomore Tanush Sajja – Quarterfinalist
- Freshman Inica Kaushal – Quarterfinalist
- Freshman Madeline Zhuravel – Quarterfinalist
Program Oral Interpretation
- Sophomore Gabriella Otero – 1st
Congressional Debate
- Sophomore Archith Venkat – Semifinalist
- Sophomore Ian Chen – Semifinalist
Varsity Lincoln Douglas Debate
- Senior Zayn Charania – 2nd and 5th Speaker
- Junior Justin Xia – Semifinalist and Top Speaker
- Sophomore Cristina Alvarez – Quarterfinalist
- Sophomore Conan Matos – Octofinalist
- Junior Emanuel Sasson – Double-Octafinalist
- Junior Juley Guan – Double-Octafinalist
Although not all students received an award, the tournament provided valuable preparation for the upcoming Glenbrooks tournament in Chicago. “I didn’t get a plaque, but I was able to get great practice debating my arguments and I feel much better prepared for Glenbrooks,” sophomore Carolina Pineda said.
The team secured 1st place overall, and finished off the successful night with a Halloween party organized by sophomores Cristina Alvarez and Cassandra Beane. (Photo/Joele Denis)
