Harrison High Debate Team Wins Two State Championships

HARRISON, N.Y. – The debate team at Harrison High School recently won two state championship titles, and is sending three of its students to national forensics tournaments.

From left, Harrison High School debate team members Amy Geller, Elyssa Alfieri, Sarah Ryan, and Coach Chetan Hertzig. The schools team is ranked No. 1 in New York and No. 6 nationally.
Photo Credit: *Contributed.*

by Stephanie Mojica

04/01/2015 4:00 a.m.

After claiming 14 victories so far this season, the entire debate team at Harrison High School is ranked No. 1 in New York and No. 6 nationally in the Tournament of Champions, according to a press release.

Junior Elyssa Alfieri won the New York State National Speech and Debate Association Nationals District Tournament, qualifying her for the national championship to be held in Dallas.

Alfieri also qualified to attend two additional national championships -- the Tournament of Champions in Kentucky and the National Catholic Forensic League’s Championship in Florida.

Freshman Lauren Cole won the novice Lincoln-Debate division of the New York State Debate Coaches’ Association (NYSDCA) State Championship.

This marks the fourth tournament Cole has won this season, the third novice NYSDCA state championship title for Harrison High, and the fifth consecutive year a Harrison novice has placed as one of the top two finishers at NYSDCA, according to a press release.

Senior Amy Geller won the Grand National qualifiers at Stuyvesant High School and was named the tournament’s second speaker.

Sophomore Raffi Piliero recently competed at the Woodward Academy’s 2nd Year National Championship in Atlanta.

He reached the quarterfinals – the top 8 – and was also named the tournament’s top speaker.

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