SVUDL Students Close Their Season at the 2026 Urban Debate National Championship

Top debaters from across the nation come together each year for the Urban Debate National Championship (UDNC), hosted by the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues (NAUDL). In 2026, the tournament took place from April 10 to April 13 at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, bringing together students to compete in both Policy Debate and Debate en Español.

SVUDL was represented by eight students from Independence High School, Yerba Buena High School, and Andrew Hill High School, with six students attending in person and two participating virtually. Competing on the national stage were Brandon Ho and Eli Obero from Independence High School; William Nguyen and Ryan Luu from Yerba Buena High School; Dulce Trejo and Greidys Sotelo Gonzalez from Andrew Hill High School; and Aishell Villaseñor Barajas and De'Angelo Quintero, who represented Andrew Hill High School virtually. Together, they formed two Policy Debate teams, one in-person Debate en Español team, and one virtual Debate en Español team, closing out their season at one of the most prestigious tournaments of the year.

Pre-matched rounds of the competition began on Saturday, April 11, marking the start of a weekend that carried a different weight than any other tournament this season. While not the final tournament for all students, it was a culminating moment for seniors William Nguyen, Eli Obero, Ryan Luu, and De'Angelo Quintero, who were closing out their high school debate careers. Competing at Harvard University alongside some of the top debaters in the country, students approached each round with a strong sense of focus and intention.

From the beginning, there was a strong sense of unity among the group as they navigated the challenges of the tournament together and supported one another between rounds.

Throughout the tournament, students continued to grow not only as competitors, but also in how they understood debate itself. Among the Policy Debate teams, there was already a strong sense of unity, built from a season of working and competing together. They leaned on that shared experience as they prepared for rounds, debriefed arguments, and supported one another through the intensity of national-level competition.

For Dulce Trejo and Greidys Sotelo Gonzalez, the experience took on a different form. Competing in Debate en Español, they spent much of the tournament engaging more deeply with the technical aspects of debate. Through conversations over the course of the weekend, including time spent speaking with SVUDL Director of Programming Kwodwo Moore, they were introduced to the idea of debate as a game with its own strategies and structures. While they were not initially interested in approaching debate in this way, their perspective began to shift. By the end of the tournament, both students expressed a growing interest in competitive success and a desire to better understand the strategic elements of the activity moving forward.

Although SVUDL teams did not advance to elimination rounds, students approached the outcome with a high level of maturity. Competing at a national tournament pushed them to confront the difficulty of the activity at its highest level and better understand what it takes to succeed.

One standout achievement came from De'Angelo Quintero of Andrew Hill High School, who competed virtually and was recognized as the 7th overall speaker out of 14 participants. His performance demonstrated a high level of skill and composure, even while competing remotely.

For Greidys Sotelo Gonzalez, the tournament was also an opportunity to experience debate in a way that connected more fully to her identity. Competing in Debate en Español at a national tournament carried a unique significance, as it allowed her to engage in an activity she cares about in the language that is central to her life outside of school. Like many students, she often navigates two different worlds, speaking Spanish at home and English in academic spaces. Being able to compete at Harvard University in Spanish created a rare moment where those parts of her life could come together.

That experience, combined with the challenges of the tournament, led her to reconsider what success looked like. Over the course of the weekend, her perspective shifted from a focus on immediate results to a desire to grow and improve within the activity.

After the final rounds concluded on Sunday evening, students gathered to close out the weekend together. Over ice cream, conversations centered on what it meant to have competed at Harvard University and how the tournament had shaped their understanding of debate. Students spoke about what they had learned and the challenges they faced over the course of the weekend.

Reflecting on the experience, SVUDL’s Administrative and Operations Manager Jenet Manuel shared: “I’ve attended many local tournaments with our students, but this was my first time traveling with them—especially to compete at such a prestigious event at Harvard University. It was an incredible experience to witness their commitment, preparation, and the strong support from their families and schools.

They endured long days with so much enthusiasm—from the excitement of being on Harvard’s campus to walking around Cambridge together. Those moments felt truly special.

What stood out most was seeing their faces after each round. Whether they won or lost, they approached every experience as an opportunity to learn and grow. Being part of that journey allowed me to see how much our students are evolving, and it makes me excited for all that lies ahead for them.”

Jordan Stone, a teacher at Independence High School and chaperone for the school district, shared his perspective about travel, noting,“I believe it is important for students to see other cities, towns and places in the U.S. and the world so they can expand their horizons and see different communities and ways of life. I think it is important for students who may otherwise never consider attending school or accessing other experiences and institutions such as Harvard or MIT to help them be able to imagine themselves somewhere like that… Students definitely learned and improved their communication skills and awareness of people and what was going around them. I think competing at the Championship tournament was a great experience to expose them to a wider world of debate and see how transformative the practice and skill can be.”

For Greidys Sotelo Gonzalez and Dulce Trejo, the experience sparked a new interest in deepening their engagement with debate. Both students expressed a desire to attend a summer camp to further develop their skills, particularly in Policy Debate, so they could incorporate more technical elements into their work in Debate en Español.

The 2026 Urban Debate National Championship marked more than the end of a tournament. For SVUDL students, it was an opportunity to recognize how far they had come over the course of the season. From competing on a national stage to developing a deeper understanding of the activity, the experience will continue to shape how they approach debate moving forward.