The Eleanor Roosevelt Speech and Debate Team
Overview
The current version of the Eleanor Roosevelt High School Debate Team was formed in 2011 by a group of students spearheaded by Vishnu Rachakonda and Anish Jain. From that initial start, the team has more than tripled in size and achieved significant success in tournaments. Practices are held at least twice a week, but to the extent possible, flexibility is provided to accommodate students who also have other commitments. Local tournaments are generally held on Saturdays and Invitational tournaments are generally held over the entire weekend. All students that are willing to meet school and team requirements (e.g.academic standing, attending practices and tournaments) are welcome to participate on the debate team. The support of parents and volunteers is critical to the success of the team.
Mission
Summary of 2014-15 Season
March 2014 - March 2015: What a difference a year makes!
A year of firsts on the road to excellence!
A year ago, ERHS Debate was winding down its third year of competitive debate. It had been a season of growth and improvement. However, none of our debaters had won a tournament during the season. In March 2014 that changed drastically and the team set off on a year of unprecedented accomplishments.
March 2014
Three Teams in the Top Six at DC Urban Debate League Tournament
Our teams went a combined 8-1. We won 1st place in the school awards for most wins, and 2nd place for highest winning percentage. In team awards, Anish Jain-Arbaz Khatib finished 1st, Vinai Rachakonda-Donovan Harvey finished 2nd, & Sabah Rana-Jordan Barton finished 6th. This was the first time we’d ever had 3 teams medal at a tournament! In individual awards, Anish was 1st, Arbaz 4th, Donovan 5th, Jordan 6th, & Sabah 8th.
Top Finishers at NSDA District Qualifying Tournament
Only weeks after ERHS became a member of the National Speech & Debate Association, the teams of Donovan Harvey-Anish Jain & Jordan Barton-Sabah Rana ably represented ERHS at our first Chesapeake District National Qualifying Tournament. Donovan & Anish were top finishers & qualified to participate at NSDA Nationals.
April 2014 - Back-to-Back Wins at the DCUDL Championship Tournament
Vishnu & Vinai Rachakonda finished 1st at the DCUDL Championship Tournament for the second year in a row!
June 2014 – First Time Competing at NSDA Nationals
Although Anish could not attend due to a family commitment, Donovan competed individually in the supplemental and consolation events to become ERHS’ first competitor at NSDA Nationals! Coach Harvey was also asked to participate in a video of coaches sharing their perspectives on coaching debate.
Sept. 2014 -First ERHS Novice Debater Boot Camp
To kick off the county’s new Debate League, we hosted workshops for new debaters from across county. Led by Ms. Jennifer Matson, our new sponsor, our students planned & conducted most of the workshops.
Oct. 2014
Novice Debaters Win Awards at DCUDL in Their Very First Tournament
We won medals in novice (Olufunke Awowale/William Nguyen) & varsity (Donovan Harvey-Jaylin Pringle), with Olu (top speaker), Jaylin (3rd speaker), & William (3rd place team) winning awards in their very first tournament!
First Time Competing in a National Circuit Tournament
National Circuit tournaments attract the best debaters in the country. Samir Salih and Donovan Harvey became the first ERHS team to participate in a National Circuit tournament by competing in the New York City Invitational. Despite late notice and little sleep, they competed and represented ERHS well.
Jan. 2015
ERHS Hosts First Tournament, ERHS hosted the January WACFL Speech and Debate tournament with over 400 debaters and judges representing 40 schools from across the region. The tournament was a big success!
ERHS Goes 6-1 in Inaugural Prince George’s Debate League Tournament
We won 6 of 7 debates at the Prince George’s Debate League’s first official tournament. Lewis Campbell-Shaan Singh & Donovan Harvey as a 1-person team, both went 3-0, with Lewis-Shaan winning an award for Best Case.
Feb. 2015
First Invitation to a National Circuit Round Robin Tournament
Donovan Harvey and Vinai Rachakonda were one of 10 teams selected to compete in the Univ. of Pennsylvania Liberty Bell Classic pre-tournament round-robin. Tournament directors chose the top 10 applicants to participate in the round-robin. Donovan and Vinai did a great job and made it to the semi-finals!
First National Circuit Tournament Championship
Vinai Rachakonda and Donovan Harvey won the 2015 University of Pennsylvania Liberty Bell Classic, a National Circuit tournament that attracted about 250 of the country’s best Public Forum debaters. They went 10-2 in the tournament.
First Time 3 ERHS Teams Invited to WACFL MetroFinals
Teams from across the region have debated all season to qualify for the 2015 WACFL MetroFinals Tournament. Three of our teams made it into 2015 MetroFinals! Our MetroFinals qualifiers included Olu Awowale-William Nguyen in Junior Varsity; and Donovan Harvey-Vinai Rachakonda and Lewis Campbell -Shaan Singh in Varsity.
First Time an ERHS Public Forum Team is Nationally Ranked
Vinai Rachakonda & Donovan Harvey ranked 49th on Debaterankings.com list of top 50 teams in the country!
March 2015
First Time ERHS Debate Ranked in top 10 of Maryland Schools
In only our 4th season, the ERHS Debate Team Ranked 8th in NSDA’s ranking of Maryland schools.
First Time ERHS wins WACFL MetroFinals Championship
The team of Donovan Harvey & Vinai Rachakonda won the 2015 Washington-Arlington Catholic Forensic League Championship in Public Forum debate. This was ERHS’ first WACFL Championship! It qualifies them to compete at the National Catholic Forensic league National Championships in Fort Lauderdale in May.
ERHS wins NSDA Districts & Qualifies for NSDA Nationals for 2nd Time!
Vinai Rachakonda & Donovan Harvey won the NSDA Chesapeake District Tournament & an invitation to compete at the NSDA National Tournament. This is the 2nd year in a row that an ERHS team has won Districts.
April 2015
ERHS ratifies team constitution and holds first officer elections!
Coaches/Faculty Sponsor
Leadership
Captain: Donovan Harvey '16
Overview
The current version of the Eleanor Roosevelt High School Debate Team was formed in 2011 by a group of students spearheaded by Vishnu Rachakonda and Anish Jain. From that initial start, the team has more than tripled in size and achieved significant success in tournaments. Practices are held at least twice a week, but to the extent possible, flexibility is provided to accommodate students who also have other commitments. Local tournaments are generally held on Saturdays and Invitational tournaments are generally held over the entire weekend. All students that are willing to meet school and team requirements (e.g.academic standing, attending practices and tournaments) are welcome to participate on the debate team. The support of parents and volunteers is critical to the success of the team.
Mission
- Have fun
- Build knowledge, skills, confidence & character
- Gain exposure to new opportunities & environments
- Showcase what ERHS students are accomplishing
- Give back to ERHS and the community
- Compete fairly and hard
Summary of 2014-15 Season
March 2014 - March 2015: What a difference a year makes!
A year of firsts on the road to excellence!
A year ago, ERHS Debate was winding down its third year of competitive debate. It had been a season of growth and improvement. However, none of our debaters had won a tournament during the season. In March 2014 that changed drastically and the team set off on a year of unprecedented accomplishments.
March 2014
Three Teams in the Top Six at DC Urban Debate League Tournament
Our teams went a combined 8-1. We won 1st place in the school awards for most wins, and 2nd place for highest winning percentage. In team awards, Anish Jain-Arbaz Khatib finished 1st, Vinai Rachakonda-Donovan Harvey finished 2nd, & Sabah Rana-Jordan Barton finished 6th. This was the first time we’d ever had 3 teams medal at a tournament! In individual awards, Anish was 1st, Arbaz 4th, Donovan 5th, Jordan 6th, & Sabah 8th.
Top Finishers at NSDA District Qualifying Tournament
Only weeks after ERHS became a member of the National Speech & Debate Association, the teams of Donovan Harvey-Anish Jain & Jordan Barton-Sabah Rana ably represented ERHS at our first Chesapeake District National Qualifying Tournament. Donovan & Anish were top finishers & qualified to participate at NSDA Nationals.
April 2014 - Back-to-Back Wins at the DCUDL Championship Tournament
Vishnu & Vinai Rachakonda finished 1st at the DCUDL Championship Tournament for the second year in a row!
June 2014 – First Time Competing at NSDA Nationals
Although Anish could not attend due to a family commitment, Donovan competed individually in the supplemental and consolation events to become ERHS’ first competitor at NSDA Nationals! Coach Harvey was also asked to participate in a video of coaches sharing their perspectives on coaching debate.
Sept. 2014 -First ERHS Novice Debater Boot Camp
To kick off the county’s new Debate League, we hosted workshops for new debaters from across county. Led by Ms. Jennifer Matson, our new sponsor, our students planned & conducted most of the workshops.
Oct. 2014
Novice Debaters Win Awards at DCUDL in Their Very First Tournament
We won medals in novice (Olufunke Awowale/William Nguyen) & varsity (Donovan Harvey-Jaylin Pringle), with Olu (top speaker), Jaylin (3rd speaker), & William (3rd place team) winning awards in their very first tournament!
First Time Competing in a National Circuit Tournament
National Circuit tournaments attract the best debaters in the country. Samir Salih and Donovan Harvey became the first ERHS team to participate in a National Circuit tournament by competing in the New York City Invitational. Despite late notice and little sleep, they competed and represented ERHS well.
Jan. 2015
ERHS Hosts First Tournament, ERHS hosted the January WACFL Speech and Debate tournament with over 400 debaters and judges representing 40 schools from across the region. The tournament was a big success!
ERHS Goes 6-1 in Inaugural Prince George’s Debate League Tournament
We won 6 of 7 debates at the Prince George’s Debate League’s first official tournament. Lewis Campbell-Shaan Singh & Donovan Harvey as a 1-person team, both went 3-0, with Lewis-Shaan winning an award for Best Case.
Feb. 2015
First Invitation to a National Circuit Round Robin Tournament
Donovan Harvey and Vinai Rachakonda were one of 10 teams selected to compete in the Univ. of Pennsylvania Liberty Bell Classic pre-tournament round-robin. Tournament directors chose the top 10 applicants to participate in the round-robin. Donovan and Vinai did a great job and made it to the semi-finals!
First National Circuit Tournament Championship
Vinai Rachakonda and Donovan Harvey won the 2015 University of Pennsylvania Liberty Bell Classic, a National Circuit tournament that attracted about 250 of the country’s best Public Forum debaters. They went 10-2 in the tournament.
First Time 3 ERHS Teams Invited to WACFL MetroFinals
Teams from across the region have debated all season to qualify for the 2015 WACFL MetroFinals Tournament. Three of our teams made it into 2015 MetroFinals! Our MetroFinals qualifiers included Olu Awowale-William Nguyen in Junior Varsity; and Donovan Harvey-Vinai Rachakonda and Lewis Campbell -Shaan Singh in Varsity.
First Time an ERHS Public Forum Team is Nationally Ranked
Vinai Rachakonda & Donovan Harvey ranked 49th on Debaterankings.com list of top 50 teams in the country!
March 2015
First Time ERHS Debate Ranked in top 10 of Maryland Schools
In only our 4th season, the ERHS Debate Team Ranked 8th in NSDA’s ranking of Maryland schools.
First Time ERHS wins WACFL MetroFinals Championship
The team of Donovan Harvey & Vinai Rachakonda won the 2015 Washington-Arlington Catholic Forensic League Championship in Public Forum debate. This was ERHS’ first WACFL Championship! It qualifies them to compete at the National Catholic Forensic league National Championships in Fort Lauderdale in May.
ERHS wins NSDA Districts & Qualifies for NSDA Nationals for 2nd Time!
Vinai Rachakonda & Donovan Harvey won the NSDA Chesapeake District Tournament & an invitation to compete at the NSDA National Tournament. This is the 2nd year in a row that an ERHS team has won Districts.
April 2015
ERHS ratifies team constitution and holds first officer elections!
Coaches/Faculty Sponsor
- Darrell Harvey
- Kiersten Gregory
Leadership
Captain: Donovan Harvey '16
- President- Jaylin Pringle '18
- Vice President- Shawn Abraham '18
- Secretary- Olufunke Awowale '16
- Treasurer- Lewis Campbell '17
- Historian- Christopher Clay '18
- Squad Leaders - TBD