Hackley Debate Team students competed in the final Tournaments of the season

Hackley students competed in the High School Public Debate Program (HSPDP) Championships on Saturday, April 17, and in the Middle School Public Debate Program (MSPDP) Championships on Saturday, May 8 and Sunday, May 9.

On April 17, seven Hackley Upper School students participated in the final tournament of the season with over a dozen schools from both the East and West Coast. Co-Captains Kiri Fitzpatrick ’21 and Lily Napach ’21, and Catherine Lapey ’22, Sophomore Mason Napach ’23,  Sam Sanders ’24, Jad Benslimane ’24, and Spencer Ormsby ’24 all competed in 4 rounds of debate on such topics as Abolish the CIA and the merits of term limits for the US Congress. Jad Benslimane was Hackley’s overall top speaker in the HSPDP Championship. 
 
On May 8 and May 9, thirteen Middle School students representing 5 teams entered the MSPDP two-day Championship competition. 6th graders David G., Jonah G., and Rani B.; 7th graders Juno Y., Inkosi B., Riyaan R., Dylan G., and Ben I.; and 8th graders Sejal V., Angela C., Vivek M., Arjun V., and Nina Z. all debated 4 separate topics in the preliminary rounds. Vivek was Hackley’s overall top speaker. Both Hackley 8th grade teams went 3-1, earning one team a slot in the elimination rounds on Sunday. Vivek and Arjun won their first elimination round and reached the quarterfinals of the Championship. 
 
All of our debaters should be proud of their dedication and commitment to debate during this pandemic year!
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