Speech and debaters competed the last two weekends of March for the honor of attending the National Championship in Speech and Debate. Sixteen Bells qualified in eight different categories.
The top three places in each event qualify for the championships, which will be held in Indianapolis in June. Because students may only compete in one event at the national tournament, a fourth place finish may qualify a student for the national tournament. Students may also automatically qualify based upon a final round finish in the previous year's national championship. Congratulations are extended to the following students.
Bellarmine Qualifiers
Humorous Interpretation: Jake Dessau (4th)
International Extemporaneous: John Cherian (1st), Adi Limaye (4th)
National Extemporaneous: Vijay Singh (auto qualifier); Debnil Sur (1st); Madhu Vijay (2nd); Rohan Dhoopar (3rd)
Original Oratory: Sri Gopakumar (3rd)
Lincoln Douglas Debate: Matt DeLateur; Aniket Saoji; Ronny Mukherjee (Samay Dhawan alternate)
Public Forum: Naman Trivedi/Varun Gupta (undefeated)
House: Matt Chan (auto qualifier), Ben Chan (1st in House 1)
Senate: Adi Mukund (2nd)
Sweepstakes Results
Team
1st - Bellarmine (59 points)
2nd - Leland (38 points)
3rd - Harker (19 points)
Debate
1st - Bellarmine
2nd - Harker
3rd - Leland
Speech
1st - Leland
2nd - Bellarmine
3rd - Mission San Jose
Congress
1st - Bellarmine
2nd - Leland
3rd - Harker