Seahawk debaters hope to advance to VHSL states, NCFL/NFL nationals
South Lakes finished second in the team sweepstakes at the VHSL Liberty Conference debate tournament it hosted Feb. 22.
Team rankings were determined by the performances of competitors from each school in the conference, including Fairfax, Langley, James Madison, McLean, Hayfield, Washington-Lee, and Yorktown.
Seahawks competed in Lincoln-Douglas, public forum, and policy events.
Sophomores Kiran Hampton and Henry Woelflein were the conference policy debate champions, and freshmen Daniel Sprague and Helena Clark took second place.
Both teams will move on to the Group 6A North Region tournament at Westfield High School April 5.
Senior Grace Erard placed fourth in Lincoln-Douglas debate, qualifying for regionals, while her teammates Nojan Hajiabbassi and junior Amar Singh finished fifth and sixth, respectively. Hajiabassi is the first alternate for regionals, followed by Singh.
Seahawk debaters earned 13 cumulative points, two less than the conference champions from Washington-Lee.
Students will move on to states if they place within the top three in their events at regionals. South Lakes is the defending state champion since it tied with Thomas Jefferson High School for first overall and had two debaters, then-seniors Jeffrey Di Santo and Kshitj Kumar, place first and second respectively in Lincoln-Douglas debate last year.
Debate coach Cheryl Finley expressed her excitement with the conference results in a message to the team.
“Congrats to all on a strong showing today,” Finley said. “Great job and let’s keep the momentum for Metros beginning next weekend.”
Metros, the nickname for the Washington Arlington Catholic Forensic League (WACFL) Metropolitan Championship Final Tournament, is Friday, Feb. 28-Saturday, March 1 at Dominion High School for Lincoln-Douglas debaters. Seven South Lakes students, including seniors Grace Erard, Nojan Hajiabbassi, and Amelia Koby, juniors Julian Levy-Myers, Amar Singh, and Sahana Thirumazhusai, and sophomore Kiran Hampton, qualified for varsity Lincoln-Douglas Metrofinals by either placing or earning a 3-1 record twice in preliminary league tournaments. Junior Tyler Kirk will compete in the junior varsity division.
Public forum debaters will compete in Metrofinals March 7-8 at Broad Run High School. The final list of Metrofinals qualifiers for public forum is not released yet due to complications arising from the cancellation of the fifth and final preliminary WACFL tournament because of weather conditions.
The top six varsity debaters in each event at Metrofinals will advance to the National Catholic Forensics League (NCFL) Grand National Tournament in Chicago May 23-25. Last year, Di Santo placed fifth and Erard finished seventh, earning call-up status for nationals, in Lincoln-Douglas Metrofinals. In public forum, then-seniors Reuben Levy-Myers and Andrew Kropp-Sullivan earned fourth place and a bid to nationals, while seniors Allyson Paiwonsky and Anna Stormoen were named call-ups.
Seahawks may also qualify for the National Forensics League (NFL) National Tournament in Overland Park, Kansas June 15-20 by placing first, second, or third in their event at the Virginia District Tournament March 21 22 at Madison County High School in Culpepper, Virginia. Last year, Erard became the first person from South Lakes to ever qualify for and compete in NFL nationals.
South Lakes hopes to send more competitors to both national tournaments this year.
