Saint Mary’s Macken Debate and Speech Team Shines at Multiple Fall Tournaments

Saint Mary’s Macken Debate and Speech Team delivered excellent performances across three major tournaments this season. 

Strong Showing at the Steve Hunt Invitational

At the Steve Hunt Invitational, hosted by Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon, the team faced top competitors from across the nation, including Rice University and Whitman College. Key results include:

• Adrian Lossada and Jasper Pacheco were quarterfinals in the Open division of the National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA). Pacheco was named 4th Place Speaker.
• Rose Velasquez and Emma Owen made to the quarterfinals in NPDA, demonstrating exceptional teamwork.
• Ava Peters and Malena “Rosie” Romero, initially entered in the JV pool, were moved to the Open division and ranked second overall among the upgraded teams.
• Sam Goodman and Aaron Deivaprakash debuted as a duo in Open NPDDA and began building their competitive rapport.

Outstanding Results at the Paul Winters Invitational

At the Paul Winters Invitational, hosted by the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, the team grew against one of the strongest fields of the season including their previous opponents at Steve Hunt:

• Adrian Lossada and Jasper Pacheco advanced to the semifinals in the Open division of NPDA.
• Sam Goodman and Aaron Deivaprakash reached the octofinals in NPDA, showcasing their growing strength.
• Matthew Rodriguez and Emma Owen, first entered in JV< competed in the Open division before advancing to a breakout round, becoming JV Finalists.
• Jessiah Jones and Luis Mora competed in the combined Open division after initially entering the JV pool.
• Emma Owen earned Bronze and was named 5th Speaker overall in International Parliamentary Debate Association (IPDA).
• Aaron Deivaprakash was a finalist in Extemporaneous Speaking.
• Molly Floberg placed 4th in Prose Interpretation and supported the team by judging novice NPDA rounds.

Success at The Bernacchi Invitational

The team also competed at The Bernacchi, hosted by Diablo Valley College, with strong performances across debate and individual events:

• In NPDA, Rose Velasquez and Emma Owen, as well as Sam Goodman and Aaron Deivaprakash, each won two of their four preliminary rounds.
• Gavin Hussein and Luis Mora won one round, while Malena “Rosie” Romero and Angelina Stephens, in her first competition, also won two rounds in novice NPDA.
• Emma Owen was the 2nd place speaker in IPDA.
• In Individual Events, Aaron Deivaprakash took 2nd place in Extemporaneous Speaking, and Molly Floberg competed in both Prose Interpretation and After Dinner Speaking.

“These tournaments showcase the team’s growth and adaptability across the season,” said Coach Andrea Brown. The Macken Debate and Speech Team goes back to practice for one last tournament before the end of the semester.

For more information, please contact Andrea Brown alb11@stmarys-ca.edu.