Newman Wins State in Debate!

Although there was no cheer squad chanting and doing stunts on the sidelines and no roars from painted fans in the Swamp, Newman’s Speech and Debate team scored a state victory (Overall State Debate Champions) and a dozen individual 1st place or co-champion wins at 2025 Louisiana High School Speech League State Tournament.

 

With 57 members, the Speech and debate team is as massive as many school’s varsity football teams. Forty-six of those members qualified for the State tournament and descended on Lafayette on the weekend of March 27-30. The team competed in a wide variety of competitions ranging from Lincoln Douglas, Policy,  Public Forum, and Congressional Debates to Extemporaneous, Impromptu, and Informative Speaking. 

 

And the results showed that Newman is a true Speech and Debate powerhouse. Dozens of students earned 1st Place, Champion, Top Speaker or other individual awards. Many more made their presence felt through placing in the Top 5 or quarterfinal rounds.  All of these accolades are a testament to the vitality of Newman’s ever-expanding Speech and Debate team, but moreover it bears witness to the students’ dedication and hard work throughout the year and in continual competition. 

 

We could not be more proud of our team members, and we encourage you to reach out to congratulate them. Please find the complete results of the Louisiana High School Speech League State Tournament listed below. Go Greenies!

 

 

State Champions & 1st Place – Amar Walia (’25) & Sam Elichman (’26)

Co-Champions – Henry Leyens (’27) & Aditi Shridhar (’26)

Tied for 3rd – Morgan Breaux (’26) & Zoila Linares (’27)

Quarterfinals – Nick Rezza (’25) & Deacon Maxwell (’26)

Quarterfinals – Charlotte Estrada (’27) & Madelyn Sonnier (’27) 

Top Speaker – Amar Walia (’25)

State Champions & 1st Place – Andrew Brandt (’25)

State Champions & Tied for 1st Place – Jackson Dirks (’26)

Co-Champions – Dylan Carey (’26)

Co-Champions – Russell Huber (’26)

Co-Champions – Miles Bordelon (’26)

State Champion & 1st Place – Beau Dirks (’28)

Co-Champion – Henry Drew (’27)

Semifinalist – Wyatt Conner (’27)

Quarterfinalist – Liam Wilder (’26)

3rd Place – Shrey Agrawal (’27) & Gunnar Wentz (’27)

3rd Place – Sabie DeBiase (’27) & Vivan Zhou (’26)

Quarterfinals – Elijah Yang (’27) & Alex Wang (’27)

2nd Overall Speaker – Aria Jolly (’25)

3rd Overall Speaker – Hudson Nguyen (’25)

State Champion & 1st Place – Aria Jolly (’25)

3rd Place – Lexie Toshav (’26)

4th Place – Andrew Brandt (’25)

5th Place – Jiya Jolly (’27)

6th Place – Russell Huber (’26)

8th Place – Jacob Valentino (’26)

Finalist – Morgan Breaux (’26)

Finalist – Veer Walia (’27)

Finalist – Aditi Shridhar (’26)

Finalist – Wyatt Conner (’26)

3rd Place – Wyatt Conner (’27)

Semifinalist – Gaura Bansal (’28)

Semifinalist – Shrey Agrawal (’28)

Semifinalist – Josh Chaney (’25)

1st Place – Lexie Toshav (’26)

2nd Place – Russell Huber (’26)

4th Place – Andrew Brandt (’25)

5th Place – Aria Jolly (’25)

6th Place – Jackson Dirks (’26)

Semifinalist – Morgan Breaux (’26)

Semifinalist – Nick Rezza (’25)

3rd Place – Wyatt Conner (’27)

4th Place – Julia Rai (’26)

5th Place – Henry Leyens (’27)

Semifinalist – Sabie DeBiase (’26)

Semifinalist – Veer Walia (’27)

Semifinalist – Vivian Zhou (’26)

Quarterfinalist – William Pitts (’25)

Quarterfinalist – Liam Wilder (’26)

Quarterfinalist – Gaura Bansal (’28)

1st Place – Lexie Toshav (’26)

3rd Place – Aria Jolly (’25)

5th Place – Andrew Brandt (’25)

Semifinalist – Morgan Breaux (’26)

Semifinalist – Russell Huber (’26)

Semifinalist – Jackson Dirks (’26)

Semifinalist – Jacob Valentino (’25)

Semifinalist – Aditi Shridhar (’26)

Quarterfinalist – Jiya Jolly (’27)

Quarterfinalist – Psalm McClellan (’26)

Quarterfinalist – Amar Walia (’25)

Quarterfinalist – Aadhya Krishnan (’25)

Quarterfinalist – Zoila Linares (’27)

5th Place – Wendy Sun (’27)

Forensics Award – Lexie Toshav (’26)