Wellington Speech & Debate bridged the end of the first quarter and the start of the second quarter with a solid performance at the October 2025 PBCFL at John I. Leonard High School.In Novice Congressional Debate, four legislators were recognized for their performances. Tahila Azulay placed second in her chamber, Mirellah Farias fourth, and both Alice Arteaga and Jonathan Struthers fifth. Both Mirellah Farias and Jonathan Struthers each earned gavels as the best Presiding Officers in their chambers.
Among Varsity Congressional Debate students, Ava Redfield placed second, Richard Tanton fourth, and Caden Sahlberg sixth. Richard Tanton and Leonardo Fernandez Castillo were recognized as their respective chambers’ best Presiding Officer as well.
In Novice Duo Interpretation, the pair of Julianna Castro and Arafat Shah placed third overall, while Alyssa McIntosh placed fourth in Varsity Oral Interpretation. In Varsity Extemporaneous Speaking, Melody Pratz finished fifth.
Wellington earned eight National Speech and Debate Association degrees and memberships at the tournament. Both Leonardo Fernandez Castillo and Ariel Ambo earned the Degree of Distinction, surpassing 250 honor points. Earning their NSDA honor society membership and the Degree of Honor were Julianna Castro, Mirellah Farias, Sifana Patel, Arafat Shah, Simran Shah, and Jonathan Struthers.