Needham Speech and Debate Rolls at Natick

Juniors Lily Allen and Mary Scott Dunn had zero 'Durr' moments at the annual
Graciela Burkill tournament on November 11, soaring to first place titles in
Lincoln-Douglas Debate and Children's literature reading.
Double-finalizing junior Talia Musmon versified her way to a second
poetry reading finish, which shall appear nicely next to sixth place
final's finish in prose. Junior Emma Zhang joined the ranks of prose
finalists with a fifth place laurel.. Juniors Gabe Pressman, the team of
Mia Maffeo and Anika Ray along with sophomores Lulu Wang and Sophomore
Myles Yountz rose to third in Congressional Debate, Duo interp,
Lincoln-Douglas Debate, and Declamation in turn, with Yountz being
recognized as top novice. Ninth grader Katherine Calton added to the
third place mantle piece with a trophy in novice oral interpretation.
Junior Leah Wang finished fourth in Lincoln-Douglas Debate. along with
junior Ben Fogler in dramatic performance. Junior Jeremy Tsung in LD
Debate and sophomore Dan Golmohammadi in his impromptu speaking debut
enjoyed state bids. Ninth grader Maddie Clark was recognized for earning
a first-place rank, as was sophomore Matias Welch and junior Jeremy
Tsung, despite not placing. in Lincoln-Douglas Debate. Zhang
replicated that feat in poetry, along with several of those on stage.
Congressional debaters Rafael Morales and Maddy Weirup, The
double-entered juniors Lily Katz (prose and poetry), Simon Shoemaker
(dramatic performance and oratory) Kiddie Lit reader Szilvia Robertson,
Declamer Ayla Ryann-Thompson, and LD Debater Brianna Sickmier also had
hearty exclamation points for Needham. Judging for Needham were parents
Eric Tsung, Haleh Valian and Xinyu Wang, and coaches Tyler Bates,Jackson Carr, Greg Cunningham, Adam Nir, and Paul Wexler.