Nat Quals 2023 Results

The team was excited to host the first in-person District National Qualifying tournament since 2019! From Friday to Saturday, March 17-18th, we had 13 students compete for the chance to represent New Mexico at the 2023 NSDA National Championship, held in Mesa/Phoenix this coming June. As the host site for the tournament, we had a number of additional obligations and responsibilities, but we collaborated strongly with huge parent and student support to help make the weekend a success. In spite of a surprise snow delay on Friday morning of the tournament, the team banded together to support each other through an adjusted schedule. From warming each other up before rounds even without coaches leading, to helping set-up/clean up competition rooms before and after the tournament, to observing each other’s rounds when possible, the team represented just what a force they bring to the competition space in terms of their kindness, helpfulness, and spirit of excellence both in and out of round.

We are thrilled to announce the following results and qualifiers from this tournament:

Speech

Qualifier in International Extemp — Ayla Zomermaand

1st alternate in Program Oral Interp — Thomas Wray

3rd alternates in Duo Interp — Gabby Sanchez & Sara Chehy

4th alternate in Original Oratory — Sara Chehy

Debate

Qualifiers in Policy Debate — Leo Crowley & Darin Eberhardt (2x qualifier, and undefeated!)

Qualifiers in Public Forum — Abbott Carothers & Elizabeth Hiller

Qualifier in Lincoln Douglas — Aarush Tutiki

Qualifiers in World Schools Debate — Thomas Wray, Ashna Singh

Additionally, there were some special end-of-season awards given this weekend that we are proud to celebrate:

Volunteer of the Year — Jessica Carothers (parent of Abbott Carothers)

for her immense dedication to helping the team and the league at multiple tournaments this year!

Communicators of the Year — Sophia Liem & Noor Ali

for their excellence in using their Speech & Debate skills to foster real-world advocacy in the drafting and passing of HB 134 in the NM Legislature

District Debate Sweepstakes Award — Albuquerque Academy

As a whole, eight of our thirteen participating students are now qualified for Nationals. In fact, we qualified students in more than HALF of the events we entered in, securing qualifying spots in every single debate event that we compete in. This is an immensely exciting way to end our season, and we are proud of the work we have put in leading up to this tournament to help foster such success!

For those who were unable to qualify via this District tournament, there is still the final "Last Chance Qualifier” hosted online from April 27-29th for a final opportunity to attend Nationals.

Wish us luck as we prepare for the biggest event of the year: the NSDA Championship in June! We can’t wait to finish the season together.