Needing to win four of its six pool rounds to advance, the Coppell High School World Schools debate team’s future in the tournament came down to the fifth round. With a record of 3-2, the team reevaluates and focuses on victory. With tension filling the room, the team sighs in relief as the results confirm Coppell is advancing.

From Feb. 18 – 20, Coppell seniors Sahith Mocharla, Umang Vinayaka, Shrayes Gunna, Suchit Ineni, Hunniya Ahmad and junior Anushree De competed at the California Invitational Berkeley Debate tournament at the University of California, Berkeley.

Mocharla, De, Vinayaka, Ineni and Gunna went through four preliminary rounds of debates prior to reaching the elimination bracket and climbing out on top as the winner of the World Schools Debate final beating out 30 other teams. Coppell competed against Grand Oaks (Texas) High School in the finals. 

“Our program has grown so much,” Coppell debate coach SunHee Simon said. “We started with two small teams in World Schools who could barely get to eliminations at every local tournament. Fast forward three years and they are winning their second national competition. It looks great for them but it also means a lot to the underclassmen who will be coming after them.”

Ahmad advanced to doubles (second) round of elimination to make the top 32 in the tournament in the Varsity Lincoln-Douglas debate bracket, beating out 214 entries. Ahmad won against Palos Verdes Peninsula (Calif.) High School in triples. 

“After Berkeley I felt refreshed,” Ahmad said. “Although I didn’t perform as well as I’d like to, I learned a lot on my way and competing at the invite only round robin gave me an experience of a lifetime. It taught me how to be critical of myself and know my results may not define me.”

Ahmad went undefeated in preliminary rounds and was the ninth speaker overall in the Lincoln-Douglas tournament.

“Being ninth speaker at such a prestigious tournament gave me a sense of pride,” Ahmad said. “Little me would have never thought I’d be ninth speaker at Berkeley. It made me recognize the journey I took to get here.”

According to Mocharla, the Berkeley tournament is a renowned tournament where teamsfrom around the country compete. It is deemed prestigious for if you go to a certain round of the elimination, you get a bid to the Tournament of Champions for some events, such as Policy, Lincoln-Douglas and Public Form, and for the speech events, such as Extemporaneous Speaking and original oratory. 

“I’m proud that the World Schools team got over their insecurities,” Simon said. “At the beginning of the tournament, they faced some losses that rattled their confidence. However, after regrouping and some extra motivation, they literally rose from the bottom all the way to the top. For Hunniya, I’m proud of the opposite. I’ve never seen her so confident going through a tournament. She really believed in herself and her arguments. I was so happy to see that new level unlocked for her.”

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