TAS Speech and Debate Team Earns National Recognition Through a Standout Winter Season

The Upper School Speech and Debate Team wrapped up a busy and successful winter season, competing across a series of national tournaments in the United States. From Minneapolis to Nashville to Atlanta, our students participated in a stretch of national tournaments in which TAS students walked away with high accolades and successes.   

At the 63rd Annual John Edie Holiday Debates hosted by The Blake School in Minneapolis, MN, Public Forum partners Austin AB ’28 and Sisy A. ’28 advanced to the quarterfinals (Top 8), while Policy teammates Sarah M. ’28 and Ariel C. ’27 reached the octafinals (Top 16). Both teams earned their first bids toward the Tournament of Champions, the most prestigious, invite‑only high school debate championship in the U.S., where students qualify by earning bids at top national‑circuit tournaments. By securing these results, our debaters demonstrated the analytical rigor, critical thinking, and collaborative communication that power TAS's success on a national stage.  

The momentum continued in early January, when the team traveled to Nashville for the 44th Billy Tate Southern Bell Forum hosted by Montgomery Bell Academy, one of the most challenging policy debate invitationals of the year. Jordan Y. ’26 and Ethan H. ’26 advanced to the semifinal round (Top 4), a performance that reflected weeks of preparation, careful research, and clear in‑round strategy.   

“Throughout the year, our speech and debate students have demonstrated a deep level of ownership over their learning." said Mr. Chase Williams, Director of Speech and Debate. “Their preparation, extensive research, deliberate practice, and continuous refinement, was motivated by curiosity and personal commitment. Those learning processes and their sustained commitment to growth and improvement, more than any single result, are what we are so excited to celebrate.” 

In mid-January, some members of the Upper School Speech and Debate Team traveled to Atlanta, while the rest competed virtually at home in Taiwan due to winter storm conditions moving the Emory tournament online. Iris T. ’26 and Vina H. ’26 were invited to the 11th Annual Ivy Street Round at Marist School, an event reserved for the nation’s top Public Forum Debate teams, and Jordan Y. ’26 and Ethan H. ’26 were selected for the Justin Wilson Debates at Pace Academy, a round robin featuring the top seven Policy Debate teams in the country. Jordan Y. ’26 and Ethan H. ’26 finished third overall, with Jordan Y. ’26 recognized as the second speaker, an affirmation of the duo’s consistency and their ability to communicate persuasively and collaborate effectively.  

At the 71st Annual Barkley Forum for High Schools, hosted by Emory University, our Tigers continued to shine! Iris T. ’26 and Vina H. ’26 finished among the top 43 teams after a narrow decision in triple‑octafinals, and Jordan Y. ’26 and Ethan H. ’26 advanced to the final round, finishing second overall and earning the Barkley Forum Reserve Key in Policy Debate. For Jordan, this marks a second Reserve Key at Emory, underscoring a sustained standard of excellence at one of the nation’s most storied competitions. Ethan was named the 19th speaker, and Jordan was recognized as the top speaker in Policy Debate.  

In recognition of the program’s sustained success, the Barkley Forum extended school membership to TAS, making it the first international school to join this distinguished community. The milestone reflects years of collective effort, from students leading study groups and practice rounds, to coaches coordinating preparation across time zones, and families and staff supporting the logistics that make national-level competition possible. It also serves as a clear example of the school’s mission in action, as students grow as critical thinkers, collaborative communicators, and globally-minded contributors.  

As the season continues, our speech and debate students are gaining valuable experience and building confidence for future competitions. Whether competing in person or online, at home or abroad, TAS speech and debate students carry forward a shared purpose: to listen closely, reason carefully, and use their voices thoughtfully in an increasingly complex world.