Harker debate students continued their successful year at a debate tournament held at the University of the Pacific in Stockton last weekend. Andrew Tierno, grade 10, took second place in open dramatic interpretation, while Lisa Liu, grade 11, earned third place in open humorous interpretation.

Meanwhile, the team of David Jin, grade 11, and Alex Lam, grade 10, as well as the team of freshmen Derek Kuo and Justin Xie, each finished in the top eight of open public forum debate.

Earlier in the month, at the St. Mark’s School in Dallas, policy debaters Ayush Midha, grade 12, and Panny Shan, grade 11, reached the semifinal round, finishing third out of 76 teams. Midha was named 14th speaker in the tournament and, on the invitation of a group of debate coaches, gave a special speech at St. Mark’s. These results qualified Midha and Shan for the Tournament of Champions. Additionally, Karen Qi, grade 11, reached the double-octofinal in Lincoln-Douglas debate.

At a Lincoln-Douglas debate event held at Presentation High School, Pranav Reddy, grade 12, was named the first-place speaker in the round robin and invitational events, in addition to reaching the semifinal round of the invitational and qualifying for the Tournament of Champions. Qi reached the quarterfinals of the invitational, placing her one step closer to qualifying for the Tournament of Champions.