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Speech and Debate Team Earns Top 10 National Ranking in Virginia

Speech and Debate Team Earns Top 10 National Ranking in Virginia

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The American Heritage Schools, Palm Beach Speech and Debate Teams achieved remarkable success at the 2026 National Speech & Debate Tournament in Richmond, Virginia. Competing against 7,000 students from 1,500 schools nationwide, Palm Beach competitors secured 19 individual and team awards.

Top 10 National Ranking and Four-Time Competitors

The High School Team earned the title of School of Outstanding Distinction, ranking them among the Top 10 Speech And Debate Programs in the nation. In addition, three Palm Beach students, Ryon Jemail, Enan Khan, and Zara Mendoza, were recognized as four-time national tournament competitors. These three students represented half of the six total four-time competitors from the entire state of Florida.

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Standout High School Individual Performances

Palm Beach high school students earned individual honors across multiple speech and debate events:

  • Congressional Debate (Senate): Bryan Dominguez placed 4th overall, and Sebastian Asady placed 5th overall. Both students automatically qualified for the 2027 National Tournament.
  • Congressional Debate (House): Enan Khan placed 4th overall and earned the award for Top Presiding Officer.
  • International Extemporaneous Speaking: Sabrina Kaiser advanced to the octofinal round, placing in the top 60 speakers nationally.
  • Extemporaneous Debate: Ella Shuter reached Round 8, finishing 43rd out of 1,057 competitors.
  • Impromptu Speaking: Michael Mikati advanced to Round 7, taking 17th place out of 616 competitors.

Junior High Team Victories

The Junior High Speech and Debate Team also earned national honors, capturing the Debate Sweepstakes Award. In Junior High Congressional Debate, Alana Schwartz placed 2nd overall in the nation.

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HIGH SCHOOL 

TEAM AWARDS

School of Outstanding Distinction (Top 10 in the Nation!)

INDIVIDUAL HONORS

  • Ryon Jemail - Four-Time Competitor
  • Enan Khan - Four-Time Competitor
  • Zara Mendoza - Four-Time Competitor

*3 of the 6 Four-Time Competitors from Florida were American Heritage, Palm Beach students!*

CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE

  • Bryan Dominguez - Senate - 4th Place (Automatically Qualified to the 2027 National Tournament)
  • Sebastian Asady - Senate - 5th Place (Automatically Qualified to the 2027 National Tournament)
  • Enan Khan - House - 4th Place and Top Presiding Officer
  • Ryon Jemail - House - 7th Place
  • Simon Liberzon - House - Finalist
  • Alexander Schrier - House - Semifinalist

MAIN EVENT SPEECH

  • Sabrina Kaiser - International Extemporaneous Speaking - Octofinalist (Top 60 in the Nation)

EXTEMPORANEOUS DEBATE

  • Ella Shuter - Round 8 Participant (43rd out of 1,057 competitors)
  • Aidan Barrio - Round 5 Participant
  • Jacob Shmidt - Round 5 Participant

SUPPLEMENTAL SPEECH

  • Michael Mikati - Impromptu Speaking - Round 7 Participant (17th out of 616 competitors)
  • Sabrina Kaiser - Impromptu Speaking - Round 4 Participant
  • Dylan Stern - Impromptu Speaking - Round 4 Participant
  • Angelina Isaac - Extemp Commentary - Round 4 Participant
  • Sabrina Kaiser - Extemp Commentary - Round 4 Participant
  • Michael Mikati - Extemp Commentary - Round 4 Participant

JUNIOR HIGH

TEAM AWARDS

Debate Sweepstakes

CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE

  • Alana Schwartz - 2nd Place
  • Michael Sherban - Finalist
  • Zuzanna van der Walde - Semifinalist

PUBLIC FORUM

  • Shane Johnson & Mallika Pillai - Octofinalists

SPEECH

  • Kiera Obser - Original Oratory - Quarterfinalist
  • Ved Davda - Impromptu Speaking - Octofinalist
  • Leila Pohl - Impromptu Speaking - Octofinalist
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