WUDL hosted two tournaments in March, one originally scheduled for January but snowed out, and our usual March Madness. These tournaments were instrumental in deciding the End of Year awards, with many categories going down to the wire for best team and best debaters. 

In the March Madness tournament @ John Francis: 

Varsity: 

Freshmen Marco / Evelyn (Walls) were the only undefeated team at the last Varsity tournament of the season, capping a great year for these 4th year debaters. They were also 3rd and 1st speaker, respectively. 

TOC qualifiers Jack and Margaret (BASIS DC) were 2nd, Duke Ellington’s Anna / Victoria were 3rd, and seniors Munachiso / Stephan (College Park) closed their careers on a high note, winning 4th place (Muna was also the 2nd overall speaker)

Shout outs to Taylor / Thorn (Eliot Hine), Thorpe / Levett (Hobson), Ross / Worsley (DCI), and Pessey / Graber (Hardy) for jumping into Varsity in preparation for Middle School Nationals

In JV: 

Charles Flowers Serenity / Chi Chi were the only undefeated team, setting them up for a great senior year in Varsity, closely followed by both teams from Thurgood Marshall and Forest Park, all of whom are ready for a new Varsity challenge. 

Shout outs:

Tyuis for  debating alone and going 3-1 in his first JV tournament representing Digital Pioneers. 

Shaan (Oyster Adams) as top speaker despite only going 2-2

Novice: 

Perhaps the most enthusiastic winners — Flourish / Caroline (Douglass) won the Novice Division, with Elsinore / Asha (DCI) and Kiersten of John Francis, debating alone and our top speaker, also undefeated. 

Shout outs: Francois / Dalton (Bladensburg) placed 8th, their schools best awards thus far, with teammates Amanda and Tony in 11th, both 3-1. 

DuVal’s James (3rd speaker) and Sarah (8th) continued their schools return to the winner’s circle. Sarah’s sister Elizabeth is graduating this year after debating for 3 seasons. 

Rookie: 

Maxine / Penelope (Hobson), Che / Gary (John Francis), Liam / Jahleel and Katie / Cora (Eliot Hine), and Kai (debating along for John Francis, and our top speaker) went undefeated

Shout out to Inspired Teaching’s Zach and Keyla for winning awards in their first tournament. 

From the Winter Makeup @ Cardozo: 

Huge shout out to the 24 Varsity Debaters who came to judge and mentor at our make-up tournament @ Cardozo — Ryder (DCI), Jacob (Kettering), Eric (DuVal), Chardonnae (Forest Park), Jack (Hardy), Claudia (DCI), Sangeeth (DuVal), Sitara (BASIS DC), Parker (Banneker), Ian (Creative Minds), Claire (Academy of Health Science), Elizabeth (DuVal), Jerry (Roosevelt), Victoria (Duke Ellington), Ayisha (Academy of Health Sciences), Ella (DCI), Andrea (DuVal), Anna (Duke Ellington), Amra (Duke Ellington), Bobby (Eliot Hine), Madison (Banneker), Addie (DCI), Rohan (Banneker), Ayaan (Seneca Valley) 

In JV: 

Debating for the last time in JV: Marshalll / Fiona (Hobson, also the top two speakers), Alexander / Shaan (Oyster Adams), Olive / Henri (Oyster Adams), were all undefeated, with Simone / Amelia (Walls), Isabel / Adunola (Academy of Health Science), and Leia / Kaleb (Thurgood Marshall) right behind them

Shout out to Marcus and Morgan (Forest Park) for winning 5th and 8th speaker. I was able to speak with them after what was described as a titanic clash by both sides between them and Simone / Amelia (Walls) , their respect for their opponents and self-reflection was most impressive. 

Novice: 

Abigail / Jess (Hobson), Annika / Berrin (Oyster), and Lisbeth / Leah (Banneker) went undefeated, with Norman / Nichole (MacFarland), Shaan / Luca (Oyster), Andrew / Ethan (Academy of Health Sciences), and Aurea / Tyuis (Digital Pioneers) right behind them. 

Shout outs to Lisbeth / Leah, Khalil (debating alone, 4th speaker) and Juniper / Zoe (3-1, 11th overall) who clinched the WUDL Sweepstakes Cup for Banneker this season. 

Rookie: 

Sage / Madison, Marcos / Kimora, Josephine / Elizabeth, Maxine / Penelope, Captin / Bilal, and Denim / Payton were all undefeated, and are all from Stuart Hobson, essential as they clinched their Best WUDL Middle School for the 5th season running. Oyster, Eliot Hine, MacFarland, John Francis, and Kettering all improved this season, and will make a spirited challenge to Hobson next year for that title. 

Shout out to Sage for winning top speaker in their first debate!