STUDENT LIFE

Debate


Mission

Debate affords interested students an opportunity to learn the rudiments of persuasive speech while acquiring an in-depth knowledge of national affairs. ND debaters participate in tournaments on weekends, competing against schools from throughout the United States. Debaters combine after-school practices on speaking and argumentative strategy with individual research, all of which bolster a sense of personal achievement and team camaraderie.

Students can get involved in many different levels of debate. All students start as novices and move to varsity in their second year of debate. 

To start on the debate team, one should enroll in the Introduction to Debate course. This course teaches students the basics of policy and public debate. Students get hands-on opportunities to practice their public speaking and critical thinking skills. This practice is then put to the test at competitions. For more information, see the course catalog here.

For more information, read the FAQ on this page and/or email Mrs. Christina Tallungan Phillips, Head Debate Coach, at phillips@ndhs.org.

2024-2025 Debate News

Fall 2024:
  • In varsity policy, teams placed in the top 16 at the Long Beach Tournament, in the top 8 at the Taipei American and Meadows Tournaments, in the top 4 at the Damien Tournament, 2nd place at the Damus Tournament, and closed out the finals winning first and second place at the Alta Tournament in Utah. 
  • In public debate, there are two writing teams competing in the Top 64 teams out of over 300 teams from around the world in the International Public Policy Forum. In World School Debate, the team finished 3rd at the Damien Tournament and 2nd overall at the Long Beach Tournament.
  • The novice teams have finished in the top 16 at the Damien Tournament, top eight at the Glenbrooks, 2nd place at the Meadows tournament, and 1st place in the Silver Finals at the Damus along with being awarded the overall top speaker award.
  • Notre Dame High School hosted the 12th Annual Damus Invitational this November.  More than 300 high school debaters from across the country participated. This tournament is a quarterfinals qualifier in policy debate and a semifinals qualifier in Lincoln-Douglas debate to the Tournament of Champions. This tournament is not possible without the support of David Damus, Rob Thomas, Alice Cotti, the ND Debate Parents (especially head parents Becky Lape and Patty Ivins), faculty chaperones, and the security and facilities personnel at Notre Dame High School. Thank you everyone! 
Coming this Spring 2025...
  • Two IPPF writing teams will find out on January 3rd if they will advance to the top 32.  If they make it to the Elite 8, they will compete in New York in the finals.
  • The senior team of Ava Almand and Sarah Martin have been invited to compete in the Cal Round Robin before the Berkeley Tournament in February. This invitation gives them the opportunity to compete in front of topic experts if they make it to finals. Notre Dame historically has been in the finals of this round robin twice before. 
  • ND already qualified to compete at the 2025 Tournament of Champions. The teams of Kairo Ballard/Lauren Ching and Ava Almand/Sarah Martin are fully qualified to the Tournament of Champions. We also have one team that has 1 bid: Hazel Duncan/Sarah Norman.

Faculty

List of 2 items.

  • Christina Tallungan Phillips '95

    Head Debate Coach/Teacher
    (818) 933-3653

  • Wes Shoup '12

    Debate Team Member
    shoup@ndhs.org




2024-2025

2023-2024

2022-2023

Current Team Officers

•    2024-25 Senior Team Leaders: Ava Almand, Sophia DeMayo
•    2024-25 IPPF Team Captain: Tedric Saguros
•    2024-25 Assistants: Riley Apice, Kairo Ballard Balewa
•    2024-25 Team Historians: Lauren Ching, Cailyn Paredes
•    2024-25 Student Tournament Directors: Isabella Deantoni, Madeleine Khammar
•    2024-25 Novice Coordinators: Danny Deng, Scarlett Snoke 

Past Team Officers

List of 6 items.

  • Team Captains/Senior Leaders

    • 2023-24 Senior Team Leaders: Sergio Chavez, Anahita Hedayati Rad
    • 2022-23 Senior Team Leaders: Rosalind Goldman, Libriti Greene, Leila Razi, Molly Urfalian 
    • 2021-22 Senior Team Leaders - Olivia Deantoni, Brianna Lenett, Madeleine Pira, London Torrez
    • 2020-2021 - Sarah Davidson, Osose Egbase
    • 2019-2020 - Jack Daggenhurst, Nicholas DiFilippo
    • 2018-2019 - Evie Chokler, Patricia Suico
    • 2017-2018 - Lawrence Kim, Elliot McMillan, Mason Peeples
    • 2016-2017 - Jax Rounds, Mikaela Appleby, Greg Santos
    • 2015-2016 - Jack Carty, June Choe, Ella Fisher, Dorothy Kim, Ryan Powell, Jack Schooley, Simone Schwartz- Lombard
    • 2014-2015 - Harry Aaronson, Mikayla Rae Garvin, Rachel Kovinsky, Vivienne Pismarov
    • 2013-2014 - Aron Berger, Max Lubell, Connor Smith, Rory Smith
    • 2012-2013 - Monique Candiff, Ken DeJohn, Roman Kezios
    • 2011-2012 - Cristina Cambianica/Wes Shoup
    • 2010-2011 - Morgan Titcher
    • 2009-2010 - Morgan Titcher 

  • IPPF Team Captains

    • 2023-24 Tedric Saguros
    • 2022-2023 - Casey Sinclair 2020-2021 - Osose Egbase
    • 2018-2019 - Jack Daggenhurst
    • 2017-2018 - Lawrence Kim
    • 2016-2017 - Greg Santos
    • 2015-2016 - Jack Schooley
    • 2014-2015 - Rachel Kovinsky
    • 2013-2014 - Rory Smith/Connor Smith
    • 2012-2013 - Monique Candiff
    • 2011-2012 - Cristina Cambianica
    • 2010-2011 - Cristina Cambianica/Brendan Leonard
    • 2009-2010 - Andrea Boutros 

  • Assistants

    • 2023-2024 - Sarah Martin, Marc Mercado
    • 2022-2023 - Emma Grisham, Devin Vizzie
    • 2021-2022 - Noah Barry, Molly Urfalian 
    • 2020-2021 - Hunter Rice, Maddie Pira
    • 2019-2020 -  Osose Egbase, Claire Park
    • 2018-2019 - Jack Daggenhurst, Ye Jun Kwon
    • 2017-2018 - Martina Povolo
    • 2016-2017 - Elliot McMillan
    • 2015-2016 - Mikaela Appleby 
    • 2014-2015 - Ella Fisher
    • 2013-2014 - Vivienne Pismarov
    • 2012-2013 - Aron Berger
    • 2011-2012 - Roman Kezios
    • 2010-2011 - Andrew McLoon
    • 2009-2010 - Andrew McLoon

  • Historians

    • 2023-2024 - Kairo Ballard Balewa, Aaron Kinsley
    • 2022-2023 - Ava Almand, Sergio Chavez
    • 2021-2022 - Emma Grisham, Robert Safar
    • 2020-2021 - Lillie Bush, Molly Urfalian
    • 2019-2020 - Alex Brotman, Olivia Deantoni
    • 2018-2019 - Nicholas DiFilippo, Nikhil Navare
    • 2017-2018 - Patricia Suico, Nick DiFillipo
    • 2016-2017 - Martina Povolo, Patricia Suico
    • 2015-2016 - Mason Peeples, Priya Joshi 
    • 2014-2015 - June Choe, Jax Rounds
    • 2013-2014 - June Choe, Ella Fisher
    • 2012-2013 - Mikayla Rae Garvin, Max Lubell
    • 2011-2012 - Monique Candiff
    • 2010-2011 - Cristina Cambianica
    • 2009-2010 - Chris Ceron

  • Novice Team Coordinators

    • 2023-2024 - Riley Apice, Tiella Loeser
    • 2022-2023 - Tiella Loeser, Aiden Rusche

  • Student Tournament Directors

    • 2023-2024 - Emma Grisham, Anahita Hedayati Rad
    • 2022-2023 - Noah Barry, Anahita Hedayati Rad 
    • 2021-2022 - Noah Barry, Nathan Wilson
    • 2020-2021 - Ariana Fotovat, Nathan Wilson 
    • 2019-2020 - Simon Callaghan, Lila McNiff
    • 2018-2019 - Simon Callaghan, Michelle Mar
    • 2017-2018 - Mason Peeples
    • 2016-2017 - Mikaela Appleby
    • 2015-2016 - Nicolle Pismarov
    • 2014-2015 - Mikayla Rae Garvin
    • 2013-2014 - Mikayla Rae Garvin, Alexa Gris 
    • 2012-2013 - Maggie Barran, Daniella Mikhael-Fard
    • 2011-2012 - Richard Barran/Ryan Nelson
    • 2010-2011 - Cameron Rankin/Emily Fuller

Alumni Updates

List of 18 items.

  • Class of 2024

    Sergio Chavez - UC, Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA) 
    Emma Grisham - Northeastern University (Boston, MA) 
    Anahita Hedayati Rad - Northeastern University (Boston, MA) 
    Mishelle Kamyshnikov - University of San Diego (San Diego, CA) 
    Aaron Kinsley - University of Washington (Seattle, WA)
    Tiella Loeser - St. Edward's (Austin, TX)
    Marc Mercado - UC, Riverside (Riverside, CA) 
    Triniti Santos - UC, Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA) 
    Lucas Specht - Loyola University (Chicago, IL) 
     

  • Class of 2023

    Brianna Baker - Chapman University (Orange, CA)
    Noah Barry - Tulane University (New Orleans, LA) 
    Skylar Daveline - George Washington University (Washington, D.C.) 
    Carson Diaz - Seattle University (Seattle, WA)
    Colson Duncan - Dartmouth College (Hanover, NH)
    Will Foti - St. Edward's (Austin, TX)
    Mari Garcia - CSU, Sacramento (Sacramento, CA) 
    Rosalind Goldman - UCLA (Los Angeles, CA) 
    Libriti Greene - Seton Hall (Orange, NJ)
    Connor Hartwick - University of Missouri (Columbia, MO)
    Henry Hayes - Pierce Community College (Woodland Hills, CA)
    Aryana Matsumoto - Seattle University (Seattle, WA)
    Leila Razi - UC, Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara, CA) 
    Casey Sinclair - DePaul University (Chicago, IL)
    Sam Solamo - UC, Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz, CA) 
    Molly Urfalian - UC, Berkeley (Berkeley, CA) 
    Devin Vizzie - Indiana University (Bloomington, IN)

  • Class of 2022

    • Madeleine Pira - Washington University (St. Louis, MO)
    • Olivia Deantoni - UC Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)
    • Ella Ladd -  TBD
    • Lily Silverstein -  TBD
    • Nicole Yarian - TBD
    • Robert Safar - Chapman (Orange, CA) 
    • Adam Grau - Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles, CA)
    • Nathan Wilson - University of Washington (Seattle, WA)
    • Brian Francisco - Azusa Pacific University (Azusa, CA) 
    • London Torrez - College of the Canyons (Santa Clarita, CA) 

  • Class of 2021

    • Lukas Anagnos - USC 
    • Sarah Davidson - Rice 
    • Osose Egbase - Princeton
    • Ariana Fotovat - UC, Berkeley
    • Alex Gerson - Loyola Marymount
    • Jay Gragnani - University of Kansas
    • Vahan Haytayan - Cal State University, Northridge
    • Riley Kehoe - Loyola New Orleans, LA 
    • Seamus Kim - UC, Los Angeles 
    • Nicholas Monsour - Loyola Marymount 
    • Nikhil Navare - NYU
    • Claire Park - Georgetown University 
    • Hunter Rice - Indiana University 
    • Natalia Rosenfeld - University of Miami 
    • Jayden Sengul - Chapman
    • Brian Snitman - USC 
    • Andrew Yepremian - Boston College

  • Class of 2020

    • Simon Callaghan - USC
    • Jack Daggenhurst - University of Oxford
    • Nicholas DiFilippo - NYU
    • YeJun Kwon - UC, Berkeley

  • Class of 2019

    • Evie Chokler - Loyola Marymount University
    • Michelle Mar - UC Berkeley 
    • Anulika Nwude-Jacobs - UCLA 
    • Nathan Paguio - Santa Monica Community College 
    • Patricia Suico - CSU Long Beach 

  • Class of 2018

    • Morgan Bourke - Colorado State University
    • Chris Dickens - Working on U.S. Congressional campaign for Omar Qudrat
    • Noah Healy - University of Colorado, Boulder
    • Lawrence Kim - California Polytechnic State University, Pomona
    • Elliot McMillan - American University
    • Mason Peeples - American University
    • Malone Urfalian - Loyola University Chicago

  • Class of 2017

    • Mikaela Appleby - George Washington University 
    • Eric Kalajyan - Iowa State University
    • Jax Rounds - Western Washington University
    • Greg Santos - UC Merced 

  • Class of 2016

    • June Choe (Northwestern University, Evanston, IL)
    • John Dimitri (Indiana University, Bloomington, IN)
    • Ella Fisher (Reed College, Portland, OR)
    • Nicolle Pismarov (Sonoma, Sonoma, CA)
    • Ryan Powell (Cal Poly San Luis Obsipo, San Luis Obispo, CA)
    • Jack Schooley (University of Montana, Missoula, MT)
    • Simone Schwartz-Lombard (University of Washington, Seattle, WA)

  • Class of 2015

    • Harry Aaronson (Indiana University, Bloomington, IN)
    • Mikayla Rae Garvin (University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT)
    • Rachel Kovinsky (UC, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA)
    • Vivienne Pismarov (University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA)
    • Nate Sarabia (Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA)

  • Class of 2014

    • Aron Berger (USC, Los Angeles, CA) 
    • Alexa Gris (University of Portland, Portland, OR)
    • Daniella Mikhael-Fard (UC, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA)
    • Max Lubell (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI)
    • Noella Park (UC, Riverside, Riverside, CA)
    • Jaclyn Sandoval (UC, Merced, Merced, CA)
    • Connor Smith (UC, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA)
    • Rory Smith (UC, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA)

  • Class of 2013

    • Monique Candiff (Stanford Law School, Stanford, CA)
    • Ken DeJohn (Pace University, New York, NY)
    • Roman Kezios (Baylor University Graduate School, Waco, TX)
    • Sebastian Wells (Brandeis University, Waltham, MA)

  • Class of 2012

    • Cristina Cambianica (Reed College, Portland, OR)
    • Richard Cardenas (UC, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA)
    • Joseph Dalla Betta (Tufts University, Medford, MA)
    • Emma Muir (Wooster College, Wooster, OH)
    • Ryan Nelson (UC, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA)
    • Dara Parsi (Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN) 
    • Christopher Wes Shoup (UC, San Diego, San Diego, CA)

  • Class of 2011

    • Jacob DeFilippis (UC, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA)
    • Marian Nathan Grau (Masters programs at Columbia University and the London School of Economics, Graduate Student at Harvard University)
    • Brendan Leonard (University of Chicago, Chicago, IL)
    • Andrew McLoon (UC, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA)
    • Jacob Nasser (Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA)
    • Tony Peterson (Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA)
    • Cameron Rankin (UC, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA)
    • Summer Wall (Stanford Law School, Stanford, CA)
    • Russell Whitman (University of San Diego, San Diego, CA)

  • Class of 2010

    • Andrea Boutros (UC, Los Angeles, Westwood, CA)
    • Christopher Ceron (UC, Riverside, Riverside, CA)
    • Christopher Older (UC, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA)
    • George Paguio (Pomona, Pomona, CA)

  • Class of 2008

    • Cecilia Bonaduce (UC, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA)
    • Dayne Crist (CSUN, Northridge, CA)

  • Class of 1995

    • Christina Tallungan (University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA/CSUN, Northridge, CA) 

  • Class of 1983

    • David P. Damus, Esq. (University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA/Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN)

Debate FAQs

List of 5 items.

  • Can I take Introduction to Debate and do a sport?

    Yes – there is often a misconception that as soon as you join the debate team you have to give up all other activities. It does require good time management skills, but there are several students that balance debate and 1 sport, sometimes 2. 

  • How much time a week will I have to devote to debate if I take the class?

    You are required to attend 2 tournaments a semester, which means approximately 2 weekends a semester. You are also required to help at any Notre Dame Debate Tournaments held at the Notre Dame campus. These dates change from year to year. 

  • Do I have to pay for the debate tournaments?

    The school does help fund travel and transportation for the team; however, there is usually a fee for tournaments that can range from $25-$500 depending on the travel required for the tournament. Additionally, students do have to cover their own food expenses at any debate tournament. There are some fundraising events throughout the year that can help you defray the costs of paying for the tournaments. 

  • Does debate interfere with rigorous academic schedules?

    Not necessarily - the answer to this question depends on the individual student. There are many students at Notre Dame that balance very rigorous academic schedules, including AP courses, with debate. It is easy to balance your schedule with the Introduction to Debate course, but it requires learning to balance and discipline yourself. 

    Additionally, ALL students who have been in debate even for one year have said the course greatly improved their confidence and skill level in public speaking, critical thinking, and research. They felt that after taking Introduction to Debate and going to a couple tournaments they were more prepared than many of their peers to complete research papers and make presentations in class. 

  • Will I get to travel as a novice?

    There are a couple travel opportunities during one’s novice year. It depends on your work efforts and skill level. Before each tournament, the Director of Debate makes these determinations.
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