Vanessa and Brooklyn celebrate their victories.
Tournament One Wrap-Up
The Bay Area Urban Debate League hosted its first competition this weekend at UC Berkeley, and it was a smashing success. Nineteen teams from ten schools competed in three rounds of policy debate, many of them for the first time. Challenged to think on their feet and to speak articulately and persuasively about important social and political issues, the courage and talent of these students amazed everyone in attendance.
Several students felt like conscripts at 9am on Saturday morning – pressured by their teachers, parents, and peers to participate. Every last one of them left Cal-Berkeley feeling proud and accomplished, thrilled about their experience and eager to perform even better at BAUDL’s next tournament on November 15th.
Congratulations to Oakland High’s Tommy Nguyen and Christopher Pulu for taking home the top team prize and becoming the first ever BAUDL Season Opener Champions! Also, congratulations to Natassija Jordan from Cal Prep, who won the Top Speaker Award! These students competed with distinction and integrity, demonstrating even in this early stage the spirit of excellence that is the foundation of the BAUDL.
Our thanks go out to all of you who came out to Cal-Berkeley to witness this incredible display of talent on behalf of Oakland’s high schoolers, including Mary Buttler, Executive Officer-Instructional Services for Oakland Unified School District who had this to say about the event:
“I want this program to reach more students as you do. I can see we are on our way by looking at the excitement on Saturday. As time goes on, we will identify students who will be forever motivated by participation in this debate program.”
Also, a few more thanks are in order. First, to all of our incredible judges and mentors, who are too many to name but who’s dedication and enthusiasm were the motors of success on Saturday, as always. Finally, to Greg Achten, Director of Debate at Cal-Berkeley, who graciously offered to host the tournament. Greg is an outstanding friend, an amazing and distinguished debate coach, and dedicated supporter of the BAUDL.
For full results, click more.
Full Results…
Top 15 teams:
15. Media RR (Elizabeth Rodriguez and Brandon Sneed)
14. Dewey Academy LH (Micholette Lawrence and Romeo Hicks)
13. Leadership Prep/Cal Prep BC (Gailene Contreras and Alana Banks)
12. BEST/Oakland High OL (Arwa Omar and Cecilia Lopez)
11. Media GS (Cristal Gomez and Emely Srimoukda)
10. EXCEL GT (Divan Green and Jah-Kyma Thomas)
9. EXCEL WW (Tanesha Walker and Jasmine Wheeler)
8. Cal Prep/Street Academy TB (Xavier Taylor and David Benoit)
7. Media PW (Brooklyn Payton and Vanessa Williams)
6. Cal Prep RT (Jackie Rouse and Jonathan Turner)
5. Skyline SW (Zach Seidl and Kayla Wheatfall)
4. Street Academy AL (Raven Atkins and Lovell Lynch)
3. Skyline/Street Academy CG (Imani Cole and Evaristo Garcia)
2. Cal Prep EJ (Carlene Erwin and Natassija Jordan)
1. Oakland High NP (Tommy Nguyen and Christopher Pulu)
Top 20 Speakers:
20. Tony Srimoukda (Media)
19. Imani Cole (Skyline)
18. Daryl Hardy (Robeson)
17. Lovell Lynch (Street Academy)
16. Jackie Rouse (Cal Prep)
15. Brandon Sneed (Media)
14. Vanessa Williams (Media)
13. Jonathan Turner (Cal Prep)
12. Micholette Lawrence (Dewey Academy)
11. Jessica Winsey (Street Academy)
10. Xavier Taylor (Cal Prep)
9. Evaristo Garcia (Street Academy)
8. Cecilia Lopez (Oakland High)
7. Christopher Pulu (Oakland High)
6. Cristal Gomez (Media)
5. Raven Atkins (Street Academy)
4. Zach Seidl (Skyline)
3. Alana Banks (Cal Prep)
2. Tommy Nguyen (Oakland High)
1. Natassija Jordan (Cal Prep)
