Ethan Zhou `26

The Strake Jesuit debate team continues to be one of the most awarded and most successful debate programs in the country. Over spring break, the team competed at TFA state, the most competitive state tournament in the nation, and received numerous accolades. 

With 56 students qualifying, tying the team’s record set just last year, Jesuit had the third most qualifications in the state and received the Lanny Naegelin Outstanding School Award for the most qualifiers over a decade, 455! In Public Forum, Cruz Castillo ’26 / Shaan Magon ’27 made it to finals in the event, making it the eighth consecutive year with a Jesuit student in state finals. Further, four Jesuit students made it within the top ten speakers, with Ian Ngo ’ 26 receiving the top speaker prize! In Lincoln-Douglas, 14 students broke into elimination rounds. Overall, the team strengthened the school’s legacy of outstanding performance at the state level and earned the Texas Region 4 Sweepstakes award. 

On the national circuit, Strake Jesuit debaters are best of class. In Public Forum debate, three of the top ten teams in the nation are Jesuit students with Mac Stratton ’26 / Sumith Murthy ’27 ranked 1st in the nation and Cruz Castillo ’26 / Shaan Magon ’27 ranked 3rd. 

Furthermore, Jesuit debaters have accumulated 37 bids to the prestigious Tournament of Champions, the most challenging and exclusive tournament in the nation. This school year, Jesuit debaters had valuable opportunities to travel across the nation to compete, and they delivered wins at some of the largest tournaments. 

At nearly every single national-circuit tournament, each averaging well over a hundred debaters per division, Jesuit students consistently made it into the top eight. 

Most notably, Mac Stratton ’26 / Sumith Murthy ’27 championed the Barkley Forum at Emory University, Roger Li ’26 / Peter Hablinski ’26 made it to Semifinals at the New York City Invitational out of a pool of 178 teams, Nathan Hadi ’27 / Timothy Kirichenko ’27 championed at the University of Houston and Mac Stratton ’ 26 / Sumith Murthy ’ 27 closed out the John Edie Debates at the Blake School with Cruz Castillo ’26 / Shaan Magon ’27. Overall, on the national stage, Strake Jesuit debaters were in the top five 18 times! 

At the local level, the students on the Strake Jesuit debate team competed nearly every single weekend at high schools across the Houston area. At these local tournaments, Jesuit students consistently dominated in the main events of Public Forum and Lincoln Douglas. 

As of this February, Jesuit debaters have been finalists 25 times in Varsity divisions, and successfully won first place 17 of those 25 times. The students’ relentless dedication to qualifying to the state tournament and refining their skills at the local level is reflected in the team’s record total of 571 state points. Overall, the Jesuit debate team’s legacy of excellence continues to be upheld as hardworking and diligent students, with the support of the SJ administration, compete relentlessly and with consistent record-breaking success.