Needham Speech and Debate Flies High At State Speech/Congress Championships

Needham Speech and Debate Third in Commonwealth at the State Speech and Congressional Debate Championship at Catholic Memorial High School on April 11th.

Triple-entered Madeleine Clark earned the state champion in poetry reading along with junior Vanezah Khan who was first in Children’s Literature. In Multiple Reading, Clark, along with duo partner Zoe Berg , and fellow juniors Maggie Sharrard, Sienna Tow and Miles Yountz were the Massachusetts reserve champions. Each student was triple entered, with Berg and Clark finishing third in duo interpretation of literature, Tow seventh in poetry and sixth in prose, and Yountz sixth in dramatic performance. Berg was fourth in prose reading. The triple-entered Khan and duo partner Hari Prasad Kumar soared to sixth in that category. .Sophomore Vee Crider earned fourth place in novice oral interpretation following up on a solid preliminary performance in children’s literature reading. Also contributing to the overall Massachusetts third place finish were junior Congressional Debater Maddy Weirup, Sharrard, and Yountz in duo, ninth graders Alice Walters in declamation, and Zirui Wang in extemporaneous, Sharrard and junior Ayla-Ryann Thompson in oratory, Khan in play reading, sophomore poetry reader Valentina Welch, ninth grade prose reader PJ Murray and radio broadcasters ninth grader Juliet Robertson and sophomore Noah Siegel

Wexler said he was highly encouraged by the similar grit and strength ‘ both depth and breath’ of the Needham Team. Judging for Needham were coaches Tyler Bates, Jackson Carr, Greg Cunningham,Adam Nir, and Wexler. As with the debate contingent March 28-28, Wexler said that "the seniorless performance and third place overall finish is evidence of a very bright future for the team."

The Team will next travel to nationals in Washington DC Memorial Day weekend.