Speech and Debate Qualifies a Record Number of Students for State Championships

By Mr. Brian Shouse, RHS Speech and Debate Director

Reservoir Speech and Debate members have qualified a record number of students to the State Championship this year! States qualification is based on each student’s performance during the regular season, and most do not qualify to advance. Our high number of qualifiers is an enormous accomplishment and testifies to our team’s ongoing and growing strength! 

The State Championship on March 25th is reserved for varsity contestants and is the gateway to the National Championship later this year. The top 6 students in each event at States will earn the opportunity advance to Nationals later this year. Please, wish us luck!

Several of our State Qualifiers (Maneet Mehta, Mohammed AbdulMujeeb, Neil Chibber, and Riley Jackson) also qualified in multiple events—a particularly difficult feat. And several others qualified among the top three in their event, namely Abby Ko in Children’s Literature, Larry Djatang in Extemporaneous Speaking, Lynelle Essilfie in Impromptu Speaking (1st Seed), Neil Chibber in Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Neil Chibber in Duo Interpretation of Literature, Neil Chibber in Children’s Literature (1st Seed), Riley Jackson in Duo Interpretation of Literature, and Sean Kim in Lincoln-Douglas Debate (1st Seed).

State Qualifiers/Finalists are:

• Abby Ko – Children’s Literature
• Alanna Ro – Lincoln-Douglas Debate
• Amanda Wang – Public Forum Debate
• Ann Cullum – Lincoln-Douglas Debate
• Asha Giri – Public Forum Debate
• Claire Ravel – Lincoln-Douglas Debate
• Eli Stettner – Congressional Debate
• Evan Borodin – Original Oratory
• Jadon Chu – Lincoln-Douglas Debate
• Jeremy Wong – Public Forum Debate
• Larry Djatang – Extemporaneous Speaking
• Lynelle Essilfie – Impromptu Speaking
• Maneet Mehta – Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Congressional Debate
• Mohammed AbdulMujeeb – Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Impromptu Speaking
• Neil Chibber – Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Duo Interpretation of Literature, Children’s Literature
• Nikhil Narayanan – Impromptu Speaking
• Priya Giri – Public Forum Debate
• Rachel Tanner – Children’s Literature
• Riley Jackson – Public Forum Debate, Duo Interpretation of Literature
• Sarozini Shresta – Congressional Debate
• Sean Kim – Lincoln-Douglas Debate
• Urvi Jain – Congressional Debate
• Xavier Bialczak – Public Forum Debate
• Zainab Zarnish – Lincoln-Douglas Debate

Each one of these students is incredibly talented and immensely dedicated! Those who did not qualify often came close to qualifying and could still be called up as alternates. Mr. Shouse said, “I have been impressed with everyone’s work ethic and skill this year, and I am so proud of the everyone on the team, irrespective of their individual records.”