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Westglades Speech and Debate Team Shines on National Stage in Virginia Competition 6

Westglades Middle School Speech & Debate Team. {courtesy}

Westglades Middle School’s Speech & Debate Team sent 10 students to elimination rounds at the NSDA National Tournament, with Ira Kumar finishing sixth in the nation and the program earning its third straight national finalist.

The tournament featured 945 students from 213 schools. Despite the stiff competition, Westglades delivered one of its strongest performances yet, with 10 of its 20 national qualifiers advancing to elimination rounds.

Students earning elimination-round bids included Shivanshi Pathak (Original Oratory Octa-Finals), Aanshi Shah (Lincoln-Douglas Debate Double Octa-Finals), Paisley Mena (Declamation Octa-Finals), Ellen Salame (Declamation Octa-Finals), Bianca Thakur (Congressional Debate Semi-Finals), Sahithya Muddurajaveera (Congressional Debate Semi-Finals), Rebecca Budraj (Informative Speaking Quarter-Finals), Camryn Walker (Declamation Quarter-Finals), Angelique Kramer (Dramatic Interpretation Semi-Finals), and Ira Kumar (Congressional Debate Finals).

Kumar capped off the tournament by finishing sixth in the nation in Congressional Debate, helping Westglades produce a national finalist for the third consecutive year.

Westglades Speech and Debate coach Brooke Pappas tells Parkland Talk that one of the team’s biggest achievements came from its younger competitors. For the first time in school history, five seventh-grade students advanced to elimination rounds at Nationals.

“Half of the students who broke through to elimination rounds were seventh graders,” Pappas said. “No seventh grader has advanced at Nationals before. This gives us a lot of hope for next year.”

The emotional nature of the tournament tests students both competitively and personally. While some advance to playoff-style elimination rounds, others see their seasons end after preliminaries.

“There are often tears when students learn they are not moving on,” Pappas said. “My message is always the same: learn. We never lose; we simply have an opportunity to learn and be inspired for next year.”

Preparation for Nationals begins long before students arrive at the competition. Pappas said the work starts on the first day of school and continues through classes, after-school practices, local tournaments, and weekly collaboration sessions with the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Speech and Debate Team and coach Dr. Abraham.

One of the most memorable moments occurred before the competition even began. Sixth-grade students and Westglades staff members wrote letters of encouragement to national competitors, which Pappas surprised students with on their first night in Richmond.

“Many students were brought to tears as they read messages from younger teammates who looked up to them and believed in them,” Pappas said. “The letters served as a powerful reminder that they were not only representing themselves, but also an entire Westglades Speech and Debate family that was cheering them on from home.”

For Kumar, reaching the national finals fulfilled a dream years in the making.

“Ever since I was in sixth grade, I dreamed of competing on the national stage,” Kumar said. “Earning a place in the final round and finishing as the sixth-place finalist was an incredible honor, and I learned how to think critically under pressure and just how far hard work and dedication can take you.”

Camryn Walker said the tournament taught lessons that extended far beyond competition.

“I learned that your competitors are the nicest people you will ever meet,” Walker said. “The national competition soon became about so much more than winning, as it became about friendship, sportsmanship, and kindness.”

Logan Hoffman said competing against some of the country’s top speakers inspired him to improve his own craft.

“The national stage is a whole different level,” Hoffman said. “This is what I always wanted, and now I am already working on my speech for next year.”

Angela Abad Gietl, who has competed at Nationals twice, said the experience reinforced the importance of supporting teammates.

“I’ve been honored to compete at this level twice now, and both times it felt like an absolute dream come true,” Abad Gietl said. “Even if you fail, or mess up, you still have to be there for your teammates.”

Looking ahead, Westglades plans to continue expanding its competition schedule by participating in district, online, and invitational tournaments as it prepares for the 2027 NSDA Middle School National Tournament in Phoenix, Arizona.

“In my three years as the Westglades Middle School Speech and Debate teacher and coach, we have produced a National Finalist every year,” Pappas said. “I know it is only a matter of time before we have a National Champion.”

For Pappas, however, the program’s success is measured by more than trophies and plaques.

“Beyond the trophies and medals, I have watched countless shy sixth graders transform into poised, professional, determined, and compassionate speakers and debaters,” she said. “I have had the privilege of building a team that truly feels like a family.”

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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.