Eight members of the Hotchkiss Speech and Debate Team traveled to the Roxbury Latin School in West Roxbury, MA, for the opening competition of the season on Sunday, Sept. 18, and for the third straight year came home with the top school prize. The victory continues the team’s streak with the best team record at 11 straight parliamentary debates going back to April 2021. 

Over 100 debaters from 15 schools gathered for three rounds of parliamentary debate.

Co-captain Ben Who ’24 finished in first place in the advanced division, earning a spot at the World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships in Durban, South Africa, in April 2023. Ben and his partner, Meilan Antonucci ’24, were the first place advanced pair. Meilan finished as the third place advanced speaker.

Peter Berlizov ’24 and Parth Jain ’24 finished as the third place advanced pair in their first tournament in the advanced division.

At the novice level, Isaiah Stephens ’25 was the first place novice speaker. Isaiah and his partner, Max Salzinger ’25, finished as the first place novice pair.

Libby Abelow ’25 and Vanessa Guerra ’25 contributed to the team’s overall 10-2 record, which allowed Hotchkiss to secure the Phillip H. Hansen Trophy for the best school.