May 1, 2024
We’re thrilled to celebrate our middle school team’s first-place win at the English Speaking Union’s (ESU) New York Debate League (NYDL) Championship Tournament!
On Saturday, April 27, the ESU NYDL Middle School Parliamentary Debate Championship took place at Speyer Legacy School. The competition was intense, and we are pleased to announce that our team of Anya H., Sasha S., and Daniel Yoonsuh L. emerged as the winners, claiming the coveted 1st Place title. Their performance was a testament to their hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence.
Undefeated Excellence
The team’s journey to victory was nothing short of phenomenal. They navigated five rounds of debate on these topics:
- Expanding NATO Does More Harm than Good
- Makeup Does More Harm than Good
- This House Prefers Contentment Over Achievement When the Two Are in Conflict
- College is Overvalued
They demonstrated exceptional research, critical thinking, and persuasive speaking skills, all while maintaining an undefeated record.
The final round proved to be the ultimate test. Sasha S. delivered the winning speech in front of a distinguished panel of five judges from some of New York’s most prestigious schools. They unanimously awarded victory to our Wildcat team’s proposition!
Individual Accolades
Beyond the team win, BASIS Independent Manhattan received the prestigious award for the highest percentage of wins across all competitors. Individually, Sasha, Anya, and Yoonsuh achieved an outstanding 5-0 record (excluding the final round, which they also won). We also commend the efforts of Itamar, Adrika, and Cosmo who secured a commendable 3-2 record throughout the competition.
The entire day, filled with intellectual challenges and exhilarating competition, culminated in a well-deserved celebration – tired but ecstatic, our champions reveled in their victory alongside their coaches and supporters. They also enjoyed making FaceTime calls to share the big news!
Congratulations to our incredible Debate Team! Their dedication, talent, and teamwork have brought immense pride to the BASIS Independent Manhattan community. This incredible win wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering dedication of our student debaters, the invaluable guidance of coaches Max Singer and Grace Campos, and the tireless support of school administrators and parent volunteers.
Congratulations to everyone involved. We look forward to witnessing their continued success in future tournaments!
Interested in learning more about our passionate teachers, curriculum, after-school and summer programs, sign up for our interest list, visit our school, or attend an admissions event.
BASIS Independent Manhattan is a PreK – Grade 12 private school, providing students with an internationally benchmarked liberal arts and sciences curriculum, with advanced STEM offerings.
