On Saturday, March 22, members of the debate team attended the Virginia High School League’s Regional Debate Tournament at Rock Ridge High School. During the all-day event, the Phoenix Debate Team was able to take home wins in three of the four  debate categories, including the Lincoln-Douglas, Policy, and Public Forum brackets. 

The tournament began early in the morning and ran late into the evening, and hosted debate teams from schools across Loudoun County. To keep things running behind the scenes, the Rock Ridge Debate Team enlisted volunteers from the Phoenix community. “Parents volunteer [because] they know that it helps their kids compete,” debate sponsor Rama Srinivasan said. Srinivasan says effective communicators give back to the community. “My former students who have really been successful actually have very successful college careers,” Srinivasan said. “They’re trying to be entrepreneurs, [and] in all of those things, their effective communication actually comes [in handy], and debate really, really helps that skill. [Many times they say] ‘We’d like to come back to judge;’ that is the way they give back to our community.”

In the Lincoln-Douglas category, the Phoenix team was represented by senior Nivietha Mohan and sophomores Varshita Miryala and Yazheny Jothiramalingam. Mohan won three out of her four rounds, as did Miryala and Jothiramalingam. 

Mohan is the president of Lincoln-Douglas and has been a part of the debate since her freshman year. In this position, she takes on the role of a coach for her peers. “[By] tutoring, in general, but especially in debate, I [can] understand how people’s brains work,” Mohan said. “Not everyone makes arguments the same way I do. When I learn [my mentees’] thought processing, I also am able to understand my opponents better. Teaching them makes me learn more at the same time.” 

In the Student Congress Category, competitors from across the county are tasked with presenting speeches and debating pieces of legislation.Rock Ridge Juniors Srikha Manubolu, Aradhana Ravi, Aniketh Malipeddi, Aditya Jupally, Aditya Pasarti, and Uday Goel each participated. 

In the Policy debates, the Phoenix contenders consisted of two teams. The first team was composed of juniors Harsha Antham and Krishna Kovvali, with the second comprising juniors Nischay Nithyananda and Vivek Batula. During the Policy debate, one team proposes a plan, while the opposing team from another school must argue why the plan should not be implemented. The end goal is to attempt to persuade the judge to rule a winner. In this category, the Phoenix teams won one out of the three debates that were held. Both sides must have thoroughly developed arguments, which can make it difficult for a judge to come to a decision. Freshman Roma Rudrakshala, a competitor in the Junior Varsity Phoenix Debate team, helped her peers prepare for their debates. “You never know if [your team] wins or loses, which is the most nerve-racking part,” Rudrakshala said.

Finally, in the Public Forum category, the Phoenix debaters again consisted of two teams. Juniors Parth Jaiswal and Zayan Hasan made up the first duo, while juniors Nihila Umasankar and Sahasra Godlaveti made up the second. During the Public Forum debate, two opposing teams argue about a current event, during which each duo presents arguments, cross-examination, and rebuttals in an attempt to persuade the judges. 

One thing both Srinivasan and Mohan made clear was how they believe debate empowers students to excel in the future by developing essential communication skills. “I have seen personal growth in some of these kids who have struggled to even string three minutes of speech together,” Srinivasan said. “[They] have grown all the way where now they can actually throw arguments and blast questions at their opponents.” 

Mohan plans to attend law school and intends to continue debating in college. Mohan is just one of many seniors on the Phoenix debate team, each of whom will soon bid farewell to the Rock. Qualifying members of the Phoenix Debate team, one of the largest in the state, will soon compete in several upcoming tournaments. 

Upcoming on Saturday, April 5, the Super-Regional debate tournament will be held at Thomas Jefferson School in Alexandria. The Rock Ridge Debate Team will be competing in three categories at Jefferson. In the first, Student Congress, juniors Aradhana Kaui, Aniketh Malipeddi, Uday Goel, Aditya Pasarti, Aditya Jupally, and Srikha Manubolu will represent the Phoenix. 

In the second, Lincoln-Douglas, senior Nivetha Mohan , sophomore Yazheny Jothiramalingam, and sophomore Varshita Miryala will compete. In the third and final category, Public Forum, juniors Parth Jaiswal and Zayan Hasan will join the rest of their team in Alexandria. 

The Phoenix Debate team will also compete at the State competition at James Madison University in Harrisonburg on April 25, and at nationals in Chicago, Ill. this Memorial Day weekend.