- Tempe Union High School District
- TUHSD Newsroom
Desert Vista Speech and Debate Team Win AIA 6A Speech and Debate State Championship
For the 14th time, in 15 years, the Desert Vista (DV) Speech and Debate Team won the AIA 6A Speech and Debate State Championship. The Thunder used a strong performance in the final round to defeat the Phoenix Country Day School Eagles 303 points to 241 points.
DV jumped out to a big lead on Friday night thanks to their performance in debate events; however, by Saturday night Desert Vista found themselves in second place with only one round of competition left.
DV head coach Victor Silva explained, “Heading into the final round our backs were against the wall, we were going to lose, lesser teams would have folded, but our team was ready for that moment and rose to the occasion.”
The Thunder showed strong grit, character, and dedication to one another as they dominated the final round winning eight individual state championships on their way to a convincing 63 point victory.
“What I am most proud of about this team is that when we needed our best performance our team was tough enough to let nothing stand in our way,” Silva said. He continued, “Before the final round, our kids dedicated their performance to one another. Without a strong belief in each other and a commitment to competing for the team, I don’t think we would have been champions.”
Team captains Margaret Braun, Elise Lange, Monica Essig Aberg and Kaitlyn Laibe provided key leadership and kept the Thunder focused and poised throughout the tournament. The Thunder were lead in scoring by Braun and fellow Junior Taylor Gilliam who each won two events. Desert Vista will now turn its attention to attempting to qualify for the National Speech and Debate Association National Championship Tournament.
Video
Full Results:
Sweepstakes
- 1st Place: Desert Vista High School - 303 points
- 2nd Place: Phoenix Country Day School - 241 points
- 3rd Place: Brophy College Prep - 209 points
- 4th Place: McClintock High School - 125 points
- 5th Place: Hamilton High School - 94 points
- Policy Debate
- Charley Hoang and Zaid Usmani - Quarterfinalist (Top 8)
- Kaede Aoki and Animesh Gupta - State Champions
Lincoln Douglas Debate
- Armando Montero - Quarterfinalist (Top 8)
- Shawn Yousefelahi - Quarterfinalist (Top 8)
Public Forum Debate
- Ethan Xie and Jackson Wakefield - Octafinalist (Top 16)
- Monica Essig Aberg and Margaret Braun - Quarterfinalist (Top 8)
- Eden Gustin and Sana Gill - Quarterfinalist (Top 8)
Congressional Debate
- Monica Essig Aberg - 5th Place
- Ethan Xie - 4th Place
- Jackson Wakefield - 3rd Place
- Elyssa Goswick - 2nd Place, State Runner Up
- Margaret Braun - State Champion
Dramatic Interpretation
- James Rooney - Semifinalist (Top 14)
- Elise Lange -Semifinalist (Top 14)
- Rylee Sepiol - Semifinalist (Top 14)
- Bronwyn Doebbeling - 2nd Place, State Runner Up
Humorous Interpretation
- Daniel Nelson- Semifinalist (Top 14)
- Elise Lange- Semifinalist (Top 14)
- Hailey Dawson- Semifinalist (Top 14)
- Lindsey Brannen - Semifinalist (Top 14)
- Alex Parra - 3rd place
Prose Interpretation
- Alex Parra - Semifinalist (Top 14)
- Regina Guisto - Semifinalist (Top 14)
- Lance Watkins - 5th place
- Emma Lee - 3rd place
- Taylor Gilliam - State Champion
Poetry Interpretation
- Sana Sabuwala - 6th place
- Nicolas Garnand - 4th place
- Zach Hills - 2nd place, State Runner Up
- Natalie Sanchez - State Champion
Programed Oral Interpretation
- Erika Leckwart - Semifinalist (Top 14)
- Haley Ketcham - Semifinalist (Top 14)
- Kaitlyn Laibe - Semifinalist (Top 14)
- Joey Deignan - 5th place
- Taylor Gilliam - State Champion
Duo Interpretation
- Chloe Zaenglein and Daanish Daudi - 5th place
- Hailey Dawson and Kaitlyn Laibe - 4th place
- Emma Lee and Joey Deignan - 2nd place, State Runner Up
Duet Acting
- Haley Ketcham and Devon Kozicki - Semifinalist (Top 14)
- Ilana Cruywagen and Lance Watkins - Semifinalist (Top 14)
- Regina Guisto and Zach Hills - 5th place
- Rhea Rungta and Natalie Sanchez - 2nd place, State Runner Up
Extemporaneous Speaking
- Eden Gustin - Semifinalist (Top 14)
- Monica Essig Aberg - Semifinalist (Top 14)
- Margaret Braun - State Champion
Impromptu Speaking
- Shawn Yousefelahi - Semifinalist (Top 14)
- Monica Essig Aberg - 4th place
- Margaret Braun - State Champion
- Original Oratory
- Anika Porwal - Semifinalist (Top 14)
- Ashley Tse - Semifinalist (Top 14)
- Sarah Jalaghi - State Champion
Informative Speaking
- Claire van Doren - Semifinalist (Top 14)
- Emma Horn - Semifinalist (Top 14)
- Morgann Kelly - Semifinalist (Top 14)
- Sarah Jalaghi - 4th place
- Lindsey Brannen - State Champion