2026 National Speech & Debate Champions
High School National Champions
Speech Events
Lanny D. and B. J. Naegelin Dramatic Interpretation
presented by Simpson College
Zach Johannes from Lincoln East High School, NE
Dr. Tommie Lindsey, Jr. Duo Interpretation
presented by Colorado College
Avi Gupta and Kostantina Bala from Archbishop Mitty High School, CA
Humorous Interpretation
Leon Yang from Fairmont High School, MN
Informative Speaking
Coby Jones from Lindale High School, TX
A. C. Eley International Extemporaneous Speaking
presented by the Council on Foreign Relations
Zoe Becker from School Without Walls High School, D.C.
Pam and Joe Wycoff Original Oratory
presented by the Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation Auxiliary
Jeremy Jesse from Royse City High School, TX
Program Oral Interpretation
presented by Advantage Communications
George Matthew Gutierrez from Harlingen High School South, TX
Carmendale Fernandes United States Extemporaneous Speaking
Daphne Kalir-Starr from College Prep, CA
Debate Events
Congressional Debate – House
Anadita Upadhyaya from Monte Vista High School, CA
Congressional Debate – Senate
Akram Younis from Suncoast Comm High School, FL
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
presented by Truman State University
Brooke Gemechu from Hawken School, OH
Richard B. Sodikow Policy Debate
presented by The Friends of The Christian Science Monitor
Jordan Yao and Ethan Huang from Taipei American School, Taiwan
Public Forum Debate
Nirmal Melam and Parker Magill from Theodore Roosevelt High School, IA
World Schools Debate
presented by Simpson College
Carolina West Gold
Natalie Berman from Charlotte Latin School; Mason Csantaveri from Marvin Ridge High School; Evan Horner from Myers Park High School; Divija Rao from Charlotte Latin School; and Jackson Willis from Marvin Ridge High School
Big Questions Debate
Caleb Waldron from Loveland High School, CO
Supplemental Events
Brother René Sterner Commentary
presented by Bob and Salli Stockton
Connor McNeill from Wadsworth City Schools, OH
Expository Speaking
presented by Bob and Salli Stockton
Jimmy Bendicsen from Wheaton Warrenville South High School, IL
Extemporaneous Debate
presented by Colorado College
Maeve Welch from St. Luke’s School, CT
Impromptu
presented by Bob and Salli Stockton
Zoya Siddiqui from Downers Grove South High School, IL
Original Spoken Word Poetry
presented by Always Writing 4 U
Noah Sanborn from Rosemount Sr. High School, MN
Poetry Reading
presented by Bob and Salli Stockton
Adrianna Allen from Rowan County Senior High School, KY
Prose Reading
presented by Bob and Salli Stockton
Clara Litherland from Lakeville North High School, MN
Storytelling
presented by Bob and Salli Stockton
Kincade Brown from Tuscarawas Valley High School, OH
Middle School National Champions
Congressional Debate
Lillian Liu from Windemere Ranch ADACC, CA
Declamation
Leah Domar from Gutierrez Middle School of Arts & Sciences, TX
Dramatic Interpretation
Lauren Elliott from Gutierrez Middle School of Arts & Sciences, TX
Duo Interpretation
Lauren Elliott and Vesper Garza from Gutierrez Middle School of Arts & Sciences, TX
Humorous Interpretation
Tiegen Fryberger from Duluth Marshall School, MN
Impromptu Speaking
Taj Brown from The Village Middle School, TX
Informative Speaking
Aivah Dauzart from David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy, LA
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
presented in memory of Tina Wang
Bailey Wong from El Roble Intermediate, CA
Mixed Extemporaneous Speaking
Liam Sahli from Friendly Hills Middle School, MN
Original Oratory
Maahi Ailawadhi from Alice B. Landrum Middle School, FL
Original Spoken Word Poetry
Damilola Adeoshun from E. A. Olle Middle School, TX
Poetry
Cetlalli Valenzuela Gonzalez from Edgewood Middle, CA
Policy Debate
Tariq Abdul-Jami and Nicholas Hinkhouse from Solar Preparatory School for Boys, TX
Program Oral Interpretation
Vesper Garza from Gutierrez Middle School of Arts & Sciences, TX
Prose
Madden Davis from LaRue County Middle School, KY
Public Forum Debate
Zidaan Barodawala and Iris Ai from Windemere Ranch ADACC, CA
Storytelling
Lauren Elliott from Gutierrez Middle School of Arts & Sciences, TX
World Schools Debate
China Gold
Ryan Yan, Miranda Chen, and Yunran Geng from Dialogy, China
Ryan Yan, Miranda Chen, and Yunran Geng from Dialogy, China
