The Parker School Speech and Debate team ended another successful season with a third place finish in the debate team championships at the Hawaii Speech and Debate State Tournament April 7-9 on Oahu. Parker was the only neighbor island school to compete.
Highlights include senior Sivan Najita taking first place in advanced Lincoln-Douglas Debate, as well as earning a spot to compete in the National Tournament this June in Salt Lake City.
Other top finishers include senior Keaton Farrell and freshman Zoe Vann who placed third in advanced Varsity Policy Debate, with sophomore Kirk Hubbard and junior Susie Krall placing fourth in the same category. Third place in Junior Varsity Policy Debate went to Parker freshman Anna Gaglione and sophomore Spencer Corabi; plus sophomores Braedon Ingalls and Severin Wold finished sixth in Duo Interpretation Speech. Additionally, Parker senior Matthew Bal placed fourth in Impromptu Speaking, with senior Ian Bond in fifth and sophomore Kirk Hubbard in sixth in the same category.
This marked the school’s ninth year with a debate team and it was the largest team in school history at 38 high school students.