Bellaire High School Sweeps Texas Forensic Association’s State Debate Tournament

On the second day of competition, several BHS debaters were proudly sporting cardinal red! (From left) Amber Liu (junior), Liana Wang (junior), Marina Finley (senior), George Zhang (junior), Allan Ngo (junior), Anu Narayanan (senior). 

After three exhausting days of competition in El Paso and two long plane flights, Bellaire returned from the “TFA” State Debate Tournament victorious. In the lead was senior Eric Bailey, who took home the state championship in Congressional Debate; Marina Finley, also a senior Congressional debater, placed a close 3rd. In the “Senate,” Matthew Tabibzadaegan (nicknamed Arman), advanced to semifinals.

In public forum, partners Amber Liu and Allan Ngo, both juniors, and George Zhang and Bowen Song, a junior-sophomore team, advanced to double-octofinalists. Allan’s persuasive speaking skills earned him recognition as the 1st Place Speaker at the tournament, receiving several perfect scores from his judges in preliminary rounds.

In policy or cross-examination debate, my partner senior Aaron Birenbaum and I, as well as the other senior-junior team of Narain Reddy and Suneal Vemuri, also advanced to double-octos.

We’d like to give a huge thank you to our coaches, Mr. Jay Stubbs and Mr. Kyle Bean – and of course, the rest of the squad for their unwavering support.