Westglades Middle School Speech and Debate Team Shines at National Sunvite Tournament

by Ryan Yousefi January 13, 2026

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Westglades Middle School Speech and Debate Team Shines at National Sunvite Tournament 4

Members of the Westglades Middle School Speech and Debate. {courtesy}

Students from Westglades Middle School delivered standout performances this past weekend at the 17th Annual Sunvite Speech and Debate Tournament, held at Nova Southeastern University.

A total of 27 seventh- and eighth-grade students from Westglades Middle School represented the school at the prestigious three-day event, which drew 861 competitors from 77 schools across 15 states, making it one of the largest and most competitive speech and debate tournaments in the country.

The competition began Friday afternoon and continued through Sunday, with students spending three full days debating, speaking, and performing before judges from across the country.

“I am incredibly proud of all of our students for putting themselves out there and competing against the best of the best,” Brooke Pappas, the school’s Speech and Debate teacher, told Parkland Talk, adding the tournament will go a long way in furthering their development, “This experience will undoubtedly make them stronger and more confident communicators.”

Westglades students earned several top finishes at the middle school level. Shivanshi Pathak won first place in Middle School Public Address, while Sofia Sawhney placed third in the same category. In the Middle School Congressional Debate, Sahithya Muddurajaveera finished second overall.

The team was successful in competing against older students in high school divisions. Ira Kumar advanced to the semifinals of the High School Varsity Congressional Debate, competing against 185 students nationwide.

Angelique Kramer reached the semifinals in Dramatic Interpretation, Ahmed Alkharkoukly advanced to the semifinals in Informative Speaking, and Melinda Guan reached the quarterfinal rounds in Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate.

Pappas also credited the team’s success to the dedication of Westglades families who volunteered their time throughout the weekend.

“We are so lucky to have incredible parent volunteers who dedicate most, if not all, of their weekend to judging and supporting this event,” she said. “Their efforts were essential to the success of the tournament.”

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Ryan Yousefi

Ryan Yousefi has lived in Coral Springs for over 30 years. He has worked as a writer for multiples outlets over the years, including the Miami New Times where he has covered sports and culture since 2013. He holds a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree in Business Healthcare Management from Western Governors University.