News
Carter and NSL Make National Final Rounds
This time last year Carter and Natalia were celebrating their top 14 finishes in International Extemp and U.S. Extemp at the National Championships knowing they were automatically qualified for the 2026 Nationals. This year they made the most of their autoqualifications by getting on the Final Round Stage as one of the top six competitors in all of America.
You’re about to go on stage in front of over 1000 people sitting in the audience, thousands more watching the livestream, and you will be forever preserved in the final round videos speech students today and generations to come will watch on the NSDA’s Final Round Archive. Carter just said, “I really wish I had a cookie right now.” Natalie, or NSL as the team calls her, commented, “Carter, your brother has a half a bag of cookies. He’s sitting in the third row ready to taunt you as soon as you walk on stage”. Perplexed, Carter questioned how his brother, also a competitor in the tournament, managed to get a seat in the VIP section. Like all good Extempers, NSL had a great answer to the question, “Guessing that’s why he only has a half a bag of cookies. It was full when we got out of the van this morning”.
After spending their entire high school careers giving hundreds of speeches, this was just another round. In fact, between them, NSL and Carter, had competed in 64 rounds in the combined six times they qualified for the National Championships. They were focused more on the idea that this would be their last rounds of speech competition. So the moment was bittersweet with the glory of the Final Round Stage and the finality of their speech careers about to unfold, live, in front of thousands of people.
Both students began their tournament journey in the preliminary rounds four days before the Final Round occurred. They went through six preliminary rounds over the first day and a half of the meet that tested their consistency and skill. Each Extemp round presented a new question, and they answered each one with accuracy, intelligence, and grace, just like they had done so many times before.
After the prelims concluded, the field narrowed to the top 60 competitors, who advanced to octo-final rounds. They were joined in their events by two of their Extemp Teammates; Silver and Carter’s little brother, Linus “Mini Mak”. These elimination rounds marked the first “cut” of the tournament. They all had two more guaranteed rounds before the next cuts were announced at the end of Day 2
Both students successfully advanced, along with Mini Mak, beyond Octos, placing them among the top 30 competitors in the nation and moving them into the quarterfinal rounds. Mini Mak would be eliminated halfway through the day but his older brother, Carter, and NSL advanced once again to the National Semi-Finals.
Reaching semifinals at NSDA Nationals is a distinction reserved for the top fraction of one percent of competitors nationwide. The top 14 students in each event advance to this stage, making it one of the most competitive rounds in the entire tournament. In addition to the standard Extemp speaking structure, students in both Semi-Final Rounds (rounds 11 and 12) of Extemp get to participate in cross-examination; where they answer direct questions from and ask questions to one of their fellow competitors.
After the last of the Semi-Finals were completed, the entire team decided to leave the schools and head back to the team hotel. On the way home finalists were posted and both Screamin’ Eagles advanced. It was only the seventh time GabSpeech & Debate has placed more than one person in the National Final Round.
NSL spoke first, early in the morning in Richmond, but even earlier - before 7am, LA time. Her question involved discussing if the United States is prepared for another severe hurricane season. Up to and including the 2026 hurricane season, “Natalia” has never been on the rotating list of names. However, after she blew away the competition and finished 2nd place as the National Runner-Up in her event, the World Meteorological Organization, the governing body overseeing the list of hurricane names, may want to consider adding Natalia to the list.
Carter’s chance to speak came shortly after the six finalists in NSL’s finished their round. His question involved how the Association of Southeast Asian Nations can maintain their union. Instead of calling out his brother sitting in the VIP section, Carter chose to poke fun at himself for falling asleep in the prep room but said he’s not the only one sleeping on the job. Those Asian nations needed to wake up and take his advice or face putting over 700 million people in economic turmoil.
Both NSL and Carter performed incredibly well. They worked for years to get to that level and they didn’t disappoint. Both are going on to colleges on the East Coast where they won’t be too far away from their final round performances on the beautiful Altria Theater’s Stage in Richmond, Virginia. And yes, Carter got a cookie.
What an incredible way to cap an incredible year and incredible career. Congrats to NSL and Carter. We are so proud of you.
Screamin’ Eagles Soar to Knott’s
By: Victoria Chou
After the team hosted the Southern California Debate League’s Novice Championships and put on their annual Speech Showcase, the Gabrielino High School Speech and Debate team headed to Knott’s Berry Farm, joining teams from across Southern California for the 5th annual Speech and Debate Day at Knott’s. The annual event offers a perfect blend of team bonding and a showcase celebrating excellence. The event celebrated another year of incredible success for GabSpeech & Debate.
The highlight of the day was the live performances from students across Southern California at the park's Wilderness Dance Hall. After a thrilling morning navigating the park's attractions from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, students gathered at the dance hall to watch the region's top talent. Three of Gabrielino's own Screamin’ Eagles left the audience stunned. Senior Chase Ong and junior Nathan Perez delivered an amazing Duo Interpretation, and junior Luke Christensen moved the crowd with his Original Prose and Poetry.
Their performances captured what Gabrielino Speech and Debate excellence truly looks like. The messages of their speeches were portrayed in a fun, captivating way while still maintaining the audience’s attention. They showed what it means to be a part of such a high-achieving team.
Beyond the rides and the stage, the day was about connection. For sophomore Misha Wang, the trip provided a unique opportunity to bond outside of the classroom. "It was great getting to spend time with people I wouldn’t normally go to Knott's with," she shared.
Anticipation had been building days before the trip, with sophomores Alexandria Chou and Misha Wang mapping out their day to maximize the experience. "I just wanted to make the most of our time at the park with all my friends," Alexandria explained.
As the day drew to a close, the talk on the bus ride home consisted of funnel cakes, Silver Bullet rides, and Camp Snoopy. The trip provided a well-deserved reward for the team's work ethic, tiring tournament days, and enduring the pressure of elimination rounds.
The celebration doesn't mark the end of the road for the Screamin’ Eagles. This upcoming summer, Gabrielino is gearing up to send an impressive 23 qualifiers to the National Tournament in Richmond, Virginia.
Hello Novice Champs
By: Chloe Hoang
There’s no better way to conclude our speech season for our novices and Junior Varsities than at the Southern California Debate League’s Novice Championships. After spending all year long learning about high school speech and debate, our less experienced students were able to show off their quickly developing skills and the progress they’ve made at both the Debate Championships at La Canada HS and then the Speech Championships at their home campus of Gabrielino.
Before rounds started, energy and enthusiasm were already booming. Students were seen to be performing their 0 round, a round that is necessary to get all jitters out of their system to get them prepared for the real deal. Sort of like how performing in a first round usually goes worse than expected because of nervousness and not being warmed up. “It helps me be fully prepared before the real rounds so I can go over anything or make last-minute changes,” states Alexandria Chou (JV, Sophomore). “I think it’s a great way to get a feel of how the tournament will progress as time goes on.”
Different competitors do different things to prepare for their event. One way Allison Lukman (Novice, Freshman) prepares is by blocking and memorizing simultaneously. “I am in HI (Humorous Interp.) and really worked on my speech. I made sure to block while memorizing instead of doing them separately because blocking while memorizing trains my mind to remember everything, similar to catching two birds with one stone. I get two things done while saving half the time! After I’ve blocked and memorized, I polished everything, such as my enunciation and popping into my characters clearer.”
A special something that is exclusive to Novice Champs is the long banners that include all of the finalists' names when postings are up. Banners from each event are rolled down from the balcony right in the middle of a quad, a place where it can easily be seen by many competitors. Sounds of happy cheers, along with cries of joy, surround the environment, with smiles and hugs in every corner. It is an extreme “in-the-moment” feeling, one where you have to be there, physically, to understand just how captivating it was. It is the single most recorded moment of the entire SCDL season.
“My favorite part of the tournament was watching the finals. Seeing all the finalists was extremely mesmerizing and also gave me a different perspective on what I could improve on my own speech,” explains Joleen Tran (Novice, Freshman). Seeing all students from the team perform completely new speeches gave many students, like Tran, a fresh, new approach and view on new ideas for their own speech.
“If I had to give advice to future Novice competitors, it would be to practice hard every week, pay attention to the coaches, and spend your time wisely in class. Heavy on the last one! From experience, do not procrastinate, it will save you lots in the long run,” urges Alexandria. Future Novices! Listen to Chou! Work ethic before the competition is a huge determining factor in how you do.
Congratulations to Trisha Lai, 1st, Koby Khuu, 2nd, Angela Liang, 3rd, Bling Bling Lau, 5th, and Alfred Lin, 6th, in Original Advocacy. Angela Liang, 1st, Bling Bling Lau, 2nd, Koby Khuu, 5th, and Jaoquin Paulson-Moore, 7th, in U.S. Extemp. Mason Yin, 1st, Claire Brandon, 2nd, Marcos Neri, 3rd, and Manuel Cordova, 6th, in Original Prose & Poetry. Mason Yin, 1st, Aidan Medina, 3rd, Jayla Tran, 4th, Nathan Chau, 5th, and Allison Lukman, 7th, in Humor. Alexandria Chou, 1st, Chloe Hoang, 2nd, Heather Tran, 5th, and Shirlyn Loi, 7th, in Informative. Vanessa Leung, 2nd, Violetta Avellan, 5th, Jasmine Chen, 6th, and Macey San Filippo, 7th, in Program Oral Interp. Lillian Chyou, 4th, and Macey San Filippo, 5th, in Original Oratory. Shirlyn Loi, 2nd, and Susie Huynh, 4th, in Declamation. Madyson Lai, 4th, in Drama. Trace Pistohl, 3rd, in International Extemp. Marcos Neri, 4th, in Scripted Interp. Madyson Lai & Hailee Young, 2nd, Noah Dizon & Conner Phan, 5th, Lillian Chyou & Adeleine Poon, 6th, in Duo.
The Screamin' Eagles took first place in the tournament for the 29th straight year.
The team is ready to advance even higher, as we send our National Qualifiers to Virginia during the summer to compete at the biggest tournament of the year. The biggest and the LAST! Good Luck Screamin’ Eagles!
Speech/Prom Double-Header Adds Seven More National Qualifiers
By Kelsey Mak
True excellence is defined by what you’re willing to sacrifice to achieve it. This was the defining theme for the Gabrielino Speech and Debate team on April 24 and 25, as twenty-six Screaming Eagles competed against thousands of competitors across the nation at the National Speech and Debate Association’s Last Chance Qualifier Tournament, aiming for a spot at this summer's National Tournament in Virginia.
With between 100 and 300 competitors in each of the 16 different events and multiple rigorous elimination rounds, the stakes were incredibly high. But the ultimate test of the team's drive came down to how the tournament was on the same day as Gabrielino's prom. But this didn’t stop the Screamin’ Eagles.
Upon learning the tournament’s first two preliminary rounds were happening just before prom, The Screamin’ Eagles staff began looking for a place where the seven upperclassmen could perform their rounds somewhere in downtown LA close to the famous and elegant Ebell Theater and Ballroom in downtown Los Angeles. GabSpeech staff contacted local hotels, churches and even looked at renting office space for a few hours. Sadly, nothing was working. One of the coaches reached out to the Ebell directly to see if they had any suggestions or contacts in the surrounding area.
Ebell’s soon-to-be-crowned, employee of the decade, and event planner extraordinaire, Dakota, learned of the predicament and secured the second floor of the Ebell for the speakers. The students got to perform their speeches twice on the second floor, then change into prom attire, and walk downstairs to their senior prom. Dakota, the Ebell management and The Screamin’ Eagles proved once again, passion and excellence always finds a way.
An interesting side note: the students performed in the exact same location that served as the hospital gathering room for the movie, Forrest Gump.
Senior Victoria Chou, who participated in this “speech/prom doubleheader”, said she did both because she “wanted the possibility of getting the opportunity to perform at the National Tournament. Even though I didn’t qualify, it was nice to perform in the same area with other people. It gave us a sense of community and will always be a great memory.”
After the four preliminary rounds and two to three rigorous elimination rounds, seven more Screaming Eagles qualified to the national tournament: Emelle Li (HI), Emily Mai (DI), Jordan Luu (DUO), Keliani Lee (DUO), Beverley Kho (POI), Cathryn Abrishami (IX), and Evangeline Chen (NX).
For Freshman Emelle Li, who qualified in Humorous Interpretation (HI), the digital format of the tournament presented a unique set of obstacles.
“I think with any online tournament it's hard for me to get hyped and get energy because I
usually feed off of the energy from the audience and my competitors," Li shared. "When they laugh at my jokes, it gives me more energy. But since I’m alone in a room it's definitely harder."
Beyond the lack of crowd reactions, the virtual format forced Li to adapt her physical performance. "For humor, I try to use as much space as possible so I'm more involved in my speech. It is definitely harder for me to do my speech in a tiny space that's limited to the width of my computer." Despite these spatial limitations, Li stated she tried her best with what she has and hyped herself up and ultimately got her ticket to Virginia.
Conversely, the digital screen offered a silver lining for other competitors. Junior Emily Mai, who qualified in Dramatic Interpretation (DI), found comfort in the unique format.
“When I’m online I can see myself on a computer and I can really focus on each movement rather than having to go almost blind in front of an audience and worry about the audience reaction,” Mai explained. “I think that's what makes the tournament somewhat easier.”
While tech issues threatened to disrupt her rhythm, Mai relied on a strong support system to see her through. “I didn’t really feel much stress compared to Nat Quals but at the same time I faced some audio issues, so that got me a little bit nervous," Mai admitted. Heading into the final round, she felt an unexpected calm. "I was feeling not very confident, but relaxed almost. I think the support of my coaches really helped me get into that chiller mindset.”
Whether adapting to tight webcam frames or getting ready for prom between speech rounds at the Ebell Theater, the Last Chance Qualifier proved that Gabrielino’s competitors possess a rare level of resilience. The Screaming Eagles have proven once again that no matter the distance, the tech issues, or the conflict of schedule, their dedication to excellence remains unshakeable. With seven new national qualifiers, there will be 23 Screamin’ Eagles heading to the National Championships in Virginia.
Screamin’ Eagles Top in So Cal Again
By Valerie Leung
For months, the entire season had been building up to a single weekend in Northern California. For the 40 Screamin’ Eagles who qualified, the California High School Speech Association (CHSSA) State Championship at James Logan High School was the place they had been dreaming about since those early morning practices last fall. After months of pouring countless hours into practice, qualifying through the Southern California Debate League, and a stop at Casa de Fruta on the charter bus ride up to the Bay Area, the 40 qualifiers finally reached the 2026 CHSSA State Championship in Union City. With over 1,000 competitors from across the state, the stakes were at an all-time high.
The hotel was a hive of activity the night before the tournament, with teammates huddled in the lobby, running through their speeches, and coaches helping with last-minute adjustments. Even with the stress of the upcoming rounds, the team stayed loose, sharing meals and watching each other perform "Round 0" run-throughs to get the nerves out.
Getting off the bus and walking onto the campus for the first day of competition provided an immediate shift in energy. Freshman qualifier Emelle Li noticed the step up in intensity immediately. “The competition is definitely different,” Li said. “Everyone was so prepared, it made me want to work harder.”
Competition started with three preliminary rounds where panels of three judges decided who would move on to the State Semi-Finals. Unlike the local invitationals, where there is only one judge and the speaking styles are familiar, State brought in completely different perspectives from the North and Central Valley, making the competition unpredictable.
The intensity peaked in Round 3, which was power-matched to pit the top-performing speakers against each other. Once the last remaining ballots were in, the preliminary stage officially concluded, and the team packed onto the charter bus. Following team tradition, coaches stood at the front of the charter bus to read the list of names who broke through to the Semi-final round. The sound of excitement and cheers fills the room as name by name is called.
Advancing past that cut-off was a massive hurdle, especially because the state tournament structure leaves zero room for error. The break list narrowed the massive field down to just the top 18 speakers in each event who would get to perform again on Sunday morning. For sophomore Chloe Ta, finding out she made the semi-final round, she said, “felt like I was breaking into any other round.”
However, once Sunday morning arrived, the magnitude of the moment quickly set in as competitors fought to make the brutal cut from 18 down to the final top 7. For Ta, the pressure intensified knowing her event leaders, Owen and Heather, were in the room. “I felt like this needed to be my best round because it's in semis, and also because they're spectating me,” Ta said. “I wanted to perform as best as I can.”
Facing the top 18 also offered a rare eye-opening perspective on the state circuit. “It was really cool to see the other schools because they had a different way of speaking and gesturing that was completely different from ours,” Ta noted. “Usually, we just see our school, so I got to see a lot of new faces and learned a lot about oratory in a general sense.” By the time those final rounds began, the rooms were packed with spectators, the judging panels grew to five members, and the atmosphere was electric.
Following the semifinal rounds, the entire team gathered in a circle in the main quad area of James Logan High School. The anticipation kept building as everyone had to wait a while for tabroom to release the results. Surrounded by nervous smiles and anxiety, the team crowded around as the coaches finally read aloud the names of who made it to the final round. Making the top 7 in the state meant surviving one of the toughest cuts of the weekend, and the quad filled with smiles each time a Gabrielino speaker was called out.
For senior co-captain Carter Mak, reaching the final round of International Extemp was less intimidating than most would expect. “Honestly, it's kind of underwhelming compared to what people expect from a final round because usually people would be really nervous,” Mak explained, noting that the room was surprisingly small. Aside from the standard 30-minute prep, Mak joked that his only real preparation to brace himself before the round was eating a cookie. Once inside, the atmosphere shifted for the better. “It was quite energetic. Probably better than preliminary rounds where some of the judges deadpan you a lot or have a poker face. In the final round, people let their emotions show, especially with jokes, so I kind of just fed off all that energy to keep giving my speech.”
By the time the final awards were called out in the gymnasium, the team’s hard work throughout the long weekend officially paid off. Gabrielino’s collective performance earned a massive 4th place finish in overall sweepstakes out of almost 200 schools who had qualified for The Championships, ranking as the 2nd best public school program in all of California and the number top school in all of Southern California for the 22nd time in the past 26 years.
The Gabrielino section of the large gymnasium, packed with coaches, and teamates celebrated with proud smiles and applause every time a Screamin' Eagle was called up to the stage. For the coaches, seeing the weeks of extra practice slots and late-night revisions translate into state success was a great moment. Beyond the individual trophies, the weekend really showed how close the team is this year, proving that having a supportive team behind you makes all the difference when competing at this level.
Whether it was a podium finish or a hard-fought prelim round, the team represented the Gabrielino with everything they had.
Anywhere between 300 and 800 students enter 16 different events at qualifying tournaments throughout California in February and March. The top 56-64 in each event qualify for the State Championships each April. The following Screamin’ Eagles placed at the 2026 Championships:
Finalists
Brayden “Bart” Tran & Cali Sadsad, 2nd - DUO, Valerie Leung, 2nd - Original Advocacy, Natalia San Lucas, 3rd - United States Extemporaneous, Carter Mak, 4th - International Extemporaneous, Jolie Wang, 4th - Original Prose and Poetry, Oliver Li, 4th - Program Oral Interpretation, Kelsey Mak, 5th - Informative, Linus Mak, 9th - Lincoln Douglas Debate
Semi-finalists
Luke Christensen - Original Prose and Poetry, Sophia Sanchez - Dramatic Interpretation, Emelle Li - Humorous Interpretation, Cedric Hua - Informative, Evangeline Chen - United States Extemporaneous, Chloe Ta - Original Oratory, Chelsea Wu - Program Oral Interpretation,
Even for those who didn’t reach the final stage, the weekend was a huge achievement. Competing at this level is a win in itself, and the experience only makes the team more ready as we look toward the National Tournament this summer. Congratulations to all the qualifiers for representing Gabrielino so well!
The team now shifts it’s focus to get the less experienced students ready to compete at the Southern California Debate League’s Novice/JV Championships next month
Great job to our Screamin’ Eagles!
15 Screamin’ Eagles Going To Nationals in Virginia
By Peyton Ong
For 35 Screamin’ Eagles, Friday was spent overflowing with anticipation; not for the upcoming weekend, but for the East Los Angeles/Orange County District’s National Qualifying Speech Tournament beginning in just a few hours.
Events divided into two schedules: Pattern A and Pattern B. Pattern A (Dramatic Interpretation, Duo Interpretation, Original Oratory, and Program Oral Interpretation) started immediately after school, while Pattern B (Humorous Interpretation, Informative Speaking, International Extemporaneous, and National Extemporaneous) followed shortly after.
Competitors spent the latter half of the school day gathered in the Speech classroom, sharing a moment of camaraderie to quell the pre-tournament tension and anxiety; to earn a spot at the National Tournament, speakers had to place third or higher out of roughly 30 competitors. Stakes were high, and everyone in the room was aware.
Pattern A completed two preliminary rounds on the first day. Informative competitor Victoria Chou recalled her first-round experience: “It’s definitely a different environment; nobody is there just for fun. Everyone wants to take home a win.”
Though the first day concluded after dark, the Eagles stayed focused and ready for the second day. At sunrise, Pattern B competitors gathered to finalize preparations, including hair and makeup, before their second preliminary round. Pattern A then returned to the room to prepare for their next round. With preliminaries complete, the team waited for the semifinals results: the top 12 competitors in each event would advance.
All but 4 of the Screamin’ Eagles advanced to the semifinals, where the stakes rose; they now had to place in the top six to reach the final round. The four competitors who didn’t advance watched their teammates and opponents, while those moving forward faced three judges, fellow competitors, and additional spectators.
“Going into semifinals was definitely nervewracking,” said junior Hodrain Liu, “but it was also cool to see a lot of really good speakers.”
The top six individuals or pairs in each event competed one last time in front of five judges, with the top three earning spots in the National Tournament. In the end, 22 Eagles advanced to the final rounds, excited and ready to perform in front of the largest crowd of the tournament, including judges, fellow competitors, and teammates. The energy in the room was electric as every finalist aimed for a top-three finish.
After a tense wait of roughly two hours for the results, the awards were finally announced. Thirteen GabSpeech members earned the distinction of being officially Nationals-bound: Owen Dowell, Silver De Leon, Elyse Luo, Linus Mak, Elizabeth Peng, Cali Sadsad & Brayden Tran, Chase Ong & Nathan Perez, Jaslin Situ & Zachary Tang, Cedric Hua, and Trenton Nam. These competitors will travel to Virginia this summer to participate in the National Speech and Debate Association’s National Championships.
GabSpeech won the Speech portion of the qualifiers for the 16th year in a row.
The following weekend, the debaters traveled to Arroyo High School for their National Qualifying Tournament. After the four prelims were completed, only freshman Linus Mak advanced to the elimination rounds. Linus lost the quarter-final round in Lincoln Douglas Debate and finished 6th place in the tournament.
“It was a good day,” Linus commented. “I qualified for Nats last weekend in Extemp, but I was really hoping to get to Virginia in debate. Either way, I’m excited to get to go.”
This brings the total number of Screamin’ Eagles qualified for the National Championships to 15, as Natalia San Lucas and Carter Mak both autoqualified by placing in the top 14 in all of America at last year’s National Championships. With those qualifiers, Gabrielino has now qualified 400 students over the past 30 years to Nationals.
While the travel planning begins, the team is focused on the State Championships and Last Chance Tournament in April. The latter will provide additional opportunities for Screamin’ Eagles to qualify for Nationals.
Good luck to all Screamin’ Eagles!
The Screamin’ Eagles have consistently placed in the top 15 schools in America and have been THE top program in the southern half of California for 21 of the past 26 years. Only one or two of those schools ahead of us in America are Title 1 schools (low socioeconomic schools). Speech and Debate is an activity greatly favoring rich students and schools.
Donations help us give all 250 students various opportunities throughout the year and not just a select few.
If you would like to support one of the best speech & debate programs in America, please send check or money order to:
Gabrielino High School Speech & Debate Team
1327 S. San Gabriel Blvd.
San Gabriel, CA 91776
Payable to: Gabrielino HS Speech Team
