DADE CITY – Pasco High School is celebrating a milestone as its newly established Speech and Debate Team secured victories in regional tournaments and earned national recognition.
Founded in September 2024 under the leadership of head coach Mark Joseph Valdez and Assistant Coach Diana Bacheller, the team has quickly risen to prominence in just a few months.
The team, affiliated with the Florida Civics and Debate Initiative, has already made a significant impact at regional and national competitions. Results from those competitions are as follows:
FCDI Gulf Coast Regional Tournament #2
(Nov. 16 in Sarasota)
- Fatima Abu Khaled – first place, Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
- Paula-Ann Williams – first place, Declamation.
- Aster Ayala Perez – first place, Impromptu Speaking.
- Rachel Marie Williams – first place, Informative Speaking.
- Madison LoBianco – second place, Legislative Debate.
- Hailey Graepel – third place, Legislative Debate.
FCDI Gulf Coast Regional Tournament #3
(Dec. 14 in Apollo Beach)
- Abby Bromley – first place, Original Oratory.
- Rachel Marie Williams – first place, Informative Speaking.
- Kyndel Edge & Katie Ananko – first place, Public Forum Debate.
- David Le – second place, Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
- Aster Ayala Perez – second place, Extemporaneous Debate.
- Paula-Ann Williams – second place, Impromptu Speaking.
- Hailey Graepel – first place, Legislative Debate.
- Madison LoBianco – second place, Legislative Debate.
- Quinten Colbert – third place, Legislative Debate.
National Speech and Debate Championship
(Jan. 17 to 20 in Orlando)
Hailey Graepel achieved 12th place in Extemporaneous Debate and was recognized as one of the “undefeated” debaters with a 3-0 record in preliminary rounds.
