Students on the Lincoln-Douglas debate team traveled to the University of California, Berkeley over Presidents Day weekend to compete in the university’s annual debate tournament.
The tournament, hosted by the university’s debate team, draws hundreds of students from across the state and is known for its large and competitive field in various speech and debate events. Ayla Rahmani ’29 said that in the weeks leading up to the event, the team dedicated extensive time to preparation, refining cases, and practicing rounds.
Sydney Lee ’29 was one of six middle school students who competed in the open division of nearly 100 debaters. After two days of rigorous preliminary rounds, Lee advanced to the elimination rounds, a notable accomplishment given the depth and strength of the competition.
“I was really excited to have the opportunity to break at Berkeley, especially since it was such a large pool,” Lee said. She lost on a 2 to 1 decision in the first elimination round. Despite this, Lee says she was really proud of her prelims performance and was glad it paid off.
Rahmani said she enjoyed the tournament. While she was disappointed with the decision of the elimination round, she reflected positively on the experience.
“I think we all did really well, considering the different and difficult competitors,” Rahmani said. “We definitely bonded throughout the trip and supported each other while preparing for rounds.
The team now looks ahead with enthusiasm as they continue preparing for their next major competition in March, building on the momentum and experience gained from Berkeley.
