Juniors Ali Dastjerdi and Shrushti Mehta won the 6A 2-speaker state title on Jan. 17 and 18. Hosted by Blue Valley High School, the team competed against approximately 70 6-A teams from around the state. The other top competitors were from BV North, Campus, Hutchinson, Wichita East and Olathe Northwest.
This tournament was the team’s first time contending in the 2-speaker state competition.
“The debates are more intense in 2-speaker because of the competitions and judging,” Dastjerdi said.
Dastjerdi and Mehta prevailed through hard work, team support and exceptional coaching from Kansas’s debate coach of the year, Trey Witt.
“Mr. Witt was very helpful,”Dastjerdi said. “And I think we have one of the closest knit squads in Kansas.”
Also there as assistant coaches were two former East debaters, Chris Carey and Sean Stenger. Both being successful debaters in their past, they were able to give insightful advice to Dastjerdi and Mehta during the competition.
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