LPS students win big at National Speech and Debate Tournament

In June, more than 30 speech and debate students from Lincoln Public Schools traveled to Louisville, KY, to compete in the 2022 National Speech and Debate Association Tournament.

Students competed in a variety of events against more than 5,000 other students from 1,194 schools, with competitors coming from every U.S. state and four countries. Several LPS students placed in the tournament, with three of them bringing home the National Champion title. National Champions include Amani Al-Hamedi from Southwest, and Rachel Laws and Celeste Cruz Rivera from Lincoln East.  In addition, East's assistant debate coach Jess Nguyen was named the NSDA Assistant Coach of the Year. The Southwest team was named a School of Honor, and the East team was named a School of Excellence. 

"This is a tremendous achievement that is representative of the culmination of months, and for some students, years, of hard work. I couldn't be prouder of these kids," said East High School speech coach Nick Herink.

"I've been a coach for a long time, and this is easily the best year LPS schools - and frankly Nebraska schools - have had at Nationals in a really long time, if ever!" echoed Southeast High School speech coach Tommy Bender.

Results from the tournament are listed below, and you can view the awards ceremony here

Lincoln East

School of Excellence in Speech (Top 20)

  • Jess Nguyen – NSDA Assistant Coach of the Year, Debate
  • Rachel Laws – National Champion in Prose Interpretation
  • Celeste Cruz Rivera – National Champion in Poetry Interpretation (Online Tournament)
  • Harper Allen – Semifinalist in Poetry Interpretation (Top 14)
  • Harper Schupbach – Quarterfinalist in Informative Speaking (Top 30)
  • Rimi Bhoopalam – Octofinalist in Informative Speaking and Expository Speaking (Top 60)
  • Eva Gronewold – Octofinalist in Informative Speaking and Expository Speaking (Top 60)
  • Mac Vaverka – Octofinalist in Dramatic Interpretation and Poetry Interpretation (Top 60)
  • Leo Goldberg – Octofinalist in International Extemporaneous Speaking (Top 60); Double Octofinalist in
    Extemporaneous Commentary (Top 100)
  • Hannah Tang – Octofinalist in United States Extemporaneous Speaking (Top 60); Elimination rounds in Extemporaneous Debate (Top 240)
  • Harper Allen & Korben Ockander – Octofinalists in Duo Interpretation (Top 60)
  • Aarohi Lamichhane – Double Octofinalist in Expository Speaking (Top 100)

Lincoln Southeast

  • Marielle Hinrichs – Octofinalist (Top 60) in Dramatic Interpretation
  • Olivia Nelson – Quarterfinalist (Top 30) in Humorous Interpretation

Lincoln Southwest

School of Honor in Speech (Top 40)

  • Amani Al-Hamedi – National Champion in Expository Speaking
  • Loc Nguyen – National Student of the Year Finalist
  • Madison Ramey – Semifinalist in Poetry Interpretation (Top 14); Octofinalist in Dramatic Interpretation (Top 60)
  • Kevin Amaro – Quarterfinalist in Humorous Interpretation (Top 30)
  • Amelia Schwensen – Quarterfinalist in United States Extemporaneous Speaking (Top 30)
  • Natasja Swanson – Double Octofinalist in Prose Interpretation (Top 100)
  • Loc Nguyen – Elimination rounds in Extemporaneous Debate (Top 240)
  • Britton Teply – Elimination rounds in Extemporaneous Debate (Top 240)
  • Molly O’Brien – Elimination rounds in Extemporaneous Debate (Top 240)


Published: July 7, 2022, Updated: July 7, 2022