NSDA Nationals 2020

11 members of the Cary Academy Speech and Debate team competed in the National Speech and Debate Association's National Tournament held virtually during the week of June 15th thru 20th. The National Speech and Debate Tournament is the largest academic competition in the world and this year there were 6,659 competitors from 1322 different schools who competed.  Saajan Patel reached the finals of the Senate of Congressional Debate placing 12th overall out of 192 competitors. Jay Sagrolikar advanced to the quarterfinals of the House of Congressional Debate after placing first in his prelim chamber finishing in the top 120 of 464 competitors. Han Zhang was the 8th Place Speaker in World Schools Debate out of over 800 competitors, and his World Schools teams advanced to the elimination rounds were they were eliminated in the round of 64. Will Aarons was the 16th place speaker in Lincoln Douglas Debate out of a field of 254 competitors. Cary Academy was recognized as a Debate School of Honor to recognize the top 50 schools in the Debate events at the National Tournament. CA was also recognized for attending its 20th National Tournament as well. CA students have qualified to compete at Nationals every year since 2001, and this was the fourth straight year that a Cary Academy student has been recognized at the National Awards Assembly by placing in the top 14 in their respective events. Other CA students who competed at Nationals were Arielle Curtis in Dramatic Interpretation, Alex Lim in Humorous Interpretation, Sydney Tai in Program of Oral Interpretation, Bayla Sheshadri in Original Oratory, Vicky Jin in United States Extemporaneous Speaking, Anisha Rustogi in Foreign Extemporaneous Speaking, and Emily Wang in Would Schools Debate.