WUDL’s longest weekend of the year has us on the road for 20 hours, a long snowy road up to Boston and back for the Lexington Winter Invitational. This tournament is one of the nation’s largest, featuring folks from across the nation (I know I judged folks from Florida). 

We’ve scouted out the best rest-stops between here and Boston, and made good time, able to take over a Dunkin before the tournament and help everyone wake up before competition. 

This weekend featured a lot of WUDL’s most experienced teams, debaters that have 3,4,5, even 6 years of high level experience, but also had some less experienced friends from Academy of Health Sciences, and some members of the next generation from BASIS DC, and Eliot Hine. 

Coming off an incredible 1st semester run, the competitive highlights didn’t disappoint. BASIS DC’s Jack / Margaret got their 4th ToC bid, finishing as Semi-Finalists. They are 1 of about 15 teams nation-wide with 4+ bids. BASIS DC’s Sitara / Daniella won their first two rounds, then had to forfeit their next two rounds due to a medical issue….but that didn’t stop them winning the next two, advancing to elimination rounds and earning their 3rd ToC Bid. There are only 4 other teams in the country that have multiple teams with 3+ ToC bids (New Trier (IL), Liberal Arts and Sciences and Westwood (TX), and Montgomery Bell (TN)), putting BASIS DC in rarified company. 

They had some strong company this weekend, as seniors Leah and Saron shook off the bad luck jinx and advanced to elimination rounds, giving BASIS DC 4 upper classmen teams that have been to elimination rounds this year, which is just amazing. 

Last but not least, School Without Wall’s Amelia and Simone advanced to their second elimination rounds of the season. This tournament, they specifically leaned into Simone’s Ethiopian heritage to make arguments about identity and gender that have been their bread and butter this season. We are very excited about these sophomores. 

Duke Ellington’s Victoria / Anna, Eliot Hine 7th graders Louise / Eliza, School Without Walls’ brothers James and William, and Marie-Celeste / Bobby all finished 3-3 as well. 

WUDL was about 1/4th of the entries in the tournament, and was about 1/4 of the elimination round participants, proving once again that our teams belong in these spaces and are as prepared and competitive as anyone else. 

Shout outs:

Duke Ellington’s Amra / Julia didn’t have the best competitive weekend, but they did some very creative argumentation around the Free D.C. movement and how debate should engage with democratic backsliding in this country. 

WUDL Staff: Danielle Dupree, McAlister Clabaugh, and Dennis Martinez

Alumni: Eric Clarke (Walls Coach, former CHEC Debater), Alex Montgomery (Girls Global Alum, coaching at Digital Pioneers and KIPP DC Shaw), Coaches Messai Yigletu (BASIS DC), and Nala King (DCI) 

Janet, Kaz, and the Lex team for being great hosts! 

Come out and join us Jan. 24th for the first local tournament of the semester at Coolidge High School!