MLWGS Speech and Debate kicks off its competition season

After our first Speech & Debate Tournament of the Year (Saturday October 24, 2026, at Glen Allen High School and Moody Middle School), I am proud to announce that our Speech Team came in Second Place overall, and all of our competitors received positive feedback!

Standout Achievements: 

• Shaivi Shankhwar – 1^st place in Poetry
• Ezra Garcia Recinos – 3^rd Place in Poetry
• Melody Qian – 2^nd Place in Program Oral Interp & 4^th Place in Dramatic Interp
• Vrinda Shah – 2^nd Place in Extemporaneous Speaking
• Harper Cox – 4^th Place in Extemporaneous Speaking
• Anaya Athale – 1^st Place in Declamation
• Avabella Nguyen – 2^nd Place in Declamation
• Gabby Cornwell – 3^rd Place in Declamation
• Urvika Bansal – 4^th Place in Declamation
• Katherine Robin & Kritika Goel – 1^st Place in Policy Debate
• Owen Stroop – 6^th Place in Congress
• Caren Zhang – 3^rd Place in Lincoln-Douglas Novice Debate

Additional Kudos to the following Competitors for their hard work and dedication to the team: 

• Speakers: Anushka Koirala, Helena Yellin, Evelyn Johnson, Liam Holmes, Eli Roerink, Eden Peacemaker, Mattie Brooks, Jenny Ding & Amy Song 
• Debaters: Theo Chukin, Emeline Zhou, Uma Raju, Simon Moon, Anivarth Vallem, Lucy Harrell & Saanvi Mandalapu
• Observers: Gisselle Chen, Akshaya Natarajan, & Tyree Coleman 

MLWGS Speech and Debate teams are sponsored by Ms. Erin MacPherson. We also recognize Ms Kristen Macklin for helping chaperone at Moody Middle School this weekend.

Congratulations on your outstanding results, Dragons!