State Championship 2023 Results
The team rounded out the local competition season with a stellar performance at the NMSDA State Speech & Debate Championship from 2/24–2/25 at UNM. The weekend was very exciting for all, as we competed out of a new venue and were able to attend the state’s first in-person State Championship since February 2020, just weeks before the pandemic took hold. It was a remarkable way to round out our season and participate in our local league and fellow New Mexican teams! We celebrated as well with special locker decor and homemade t-shirts to help increase our team spirit and camaraderie going into the event.
We are thrilled to acknowledge the following for their achievements:
Speech
1st place STATE CHAMPION in International Extemp — Ayla Zomermaand
1st place STATE CHAMPION in Informative Speaking — Becca Faber
2nd place in Original Oratory — Becca Faber
3rd place in Duo Interp — Gabby Sanchez & Sara Chehy
Finalist in International Extemp — Elizabeth Hiller
Finalist in International Extemp — Abbott Carothers
Finalist in United States Extemp — Leo Crowley
Finalist in Informative Speaking — Ben Raihane
Debate
1st place STATE CHAMPIONS in Public Forum — Sophia Liem & Becca Faber (BF’s first debate tournament!)
2nd place in Varsity Lincoln Douglas — Meryem Anderoglu
3rd place Semi-Finalists in Public Forum — Jaycee Sanchez & Anagha Devarakonda
As a whole, we took home top awards in six separate event categories, earned three distinct State Champion titles, and were named an Overall School of Excellence in both Speech AND Debate! These successes are the results of a year’s worth of rebuilding and hard work, and we are enormously proud of these efforts, but especially the ways in which students have leaned in to learn and grow more within their interests.
Next up, the team will attend (and help host!) NSDA District National Qualifier for the New Mexico District, where we will get to name the qualifiers who will get to represent us at the National Tournament in June! Stay tuned.
