Westglades Speech & Debate Students Earn 21 Awards at Annual Flying L Tournament

by Ryan Yousefi September 28, 2026

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Westglades Speech & Debate Students Earn 21 Awards at Annual Flying L Tournament 6

Westglades Middle School speech and debate students. {Brooke Pappas}

Westglades Middle School speech and debate students brought home 21 awards after competing against high school students from across South Florida at the 29th Annual Wakefield Flying L Tournament.

Forty students represented Westglades at the daylong competition, held at Fort Lauderdale High School.

“For many of our students, competing at a high school tournament is both exciting and intimidating,” Brooke A. Pappas, Westglades’ speech and debate coach, told Parkland Talk, “They are stepping into rooms filled with older, more experienced competitors and finding the courage to stand up, speak, debate, and perform.”

Among the top finishes, Alissa Erickson won first place in Middle School Dramatic Performance, Maria Carla Crespo took first in Novice Original Oratory, and Sahithya Muddurajaveera was named first speaker in a Congressional Debate chamber.

Giulia Matias placed second in Middle School Dramatic Performance, Ayla Harper finished second in Program Oral Interpretation, and Adam Bedo and Ryan McGrail took third in Novice Public Forum Debate.

Pappas said some of the most meaningful moments happened outside the competition rooms.

“As the long day progressed, there were certainly moments of doubt and frustration,” she said. “But our students continued to encourage one another, push through, and return to the competition room ready to try again.”

She also pointed to a moment when former Westglades students, now competing in high school, were called to the stage as winners.

“Our current team immediately stood and gave their former teammates an enthusiastic ovation,” Pappas said. “It was a wonderful reminder that this program is about much more than trophies.”

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School also had a strong showing at the tournament.

Pappas offered special congratulations to Dr. Abraham and the MSD Speech & Debate team, whose students earned awards in Extemporaneous Speaking, Impromptu Speaking, Public Forum Debate, World Schools Debate, and Dramatic Interpretation.

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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.