Berkner Debate kicked off the 2026 season with a weekend of impressive growth and competitive success at the recent tournament hosted by Plano East. Competing with two teams in the Varsity Public Forum division, our students proved they are ready to “Speak and Be Herd” this year.
Varsity Breakthroughs
In their very first outing in the Varsity division, the team of Seth D. and Owen T. secured their first-ever varsity win. They finished the weekend 1–2, nearly clinching a winning record in a hard-fought, razor-thin Round 3. Seth D. also earned individual accolades, finishing the tournament as a Top 20 Speaker out of 84 total competitors.
Winning Records & Top Rankings
The team of Pichyadah L. and Lawrence L. delivered a stellar performance, finishing with a winning 2–1 record. Their consistency placed them among the Top 16 teams at the tournament, narrowly missing the Top 8 by a fraction. Lawrence L. further bolstered the team’s success by finishing as a Top 25 Speaker.
Future Stars on the Horizon
The weekend showed a tremendous amount of growth for the program. A special shoutout goes to the five debate students who attended the tournament to observe and support their teammates. These students will be making their own competitive debuts in their first Speech and Debate tournament in the coming weeks.
Congratulations to all our debaters on a fantastic start to the season!
