Brother Rice Debate competes at Harvard

Brother Rice proudly sent four teams to participate in the prestigious Harvard National Speech and Debate Tournament held from February 17-19. A total of 1,592 debaters engaged in spirited competition across three levels of Public Forum, delving into the critical issue of whether the US Federal Government should implement a ban on single-use plastics.

In the highly selective Varsity division, consisting of 352 teams, the dynamic duos of Nick Hulgrave, paired with Justin Ahn and Henry Clement alongside Quinn Callaghan, showcased their exceptional skills. Despite facing formidable opponents, both teams displayed resilience and determination, finishing with a 2-4 record each. Notably, they concluded the tournament on a high note, each securing victories in their last two rounds.

In the competitive JV division, featuring 198 teams, the team of Ashton Kallabat and Matheus Pinto excelled with an impressive 5-3 record. Their outstanding performance advanced them to the doubles (top 32) and secured 24th place overall. Noteworthy achievements in the speaker award category were also attained, with Matheus ranking in the top 10% and Ashton in the top 20%.

In the challenging Novice division, comprised of 246 teams, freshmen Gino Del Pup and Patrick Szura showcased their emerging talents. Despite finishing with a 2-3 record, they concluded the tournament on a high note by securing victories in their last two rounds. Patrick Szura further distinguished himself by finishing in the top 3% of all speakers, claiming an impressive 14th place out of a field of 492 debaters.

The tournament was rightfully challenging but reaffirmed that our boys belong among the best. Rice Debate finishes off their Catholic League season at Notre Dame Prep on February 28th and then hosts Qualifiers for Chicago Nationals on March 6.