Wellington debaters took home more than a dozen accolades from the final PBCFL tournament of the 2025-25 season Saturday, February 7, at Olympic Heights High School.
Izzy Parissos and Jazzlyn Capellan each took home two trophies. Parissos placed third in Dramatic Performance and fourth in Impromptu Speaking, while Capellan finished second in Program Oral Interpretation and fourth in Original Oratory.
In Oral Interpretation of Literature, Genesis Cabrera placed third and Gwen Brazzale fourth.
In Congressional Debate, both Leonardo Fernandez Castillo and Riley Hidalgo-Gato placed second in their chambers. Richard Tanton finished fourth, and Tehila Azulay fifth. Wellington legislators took home four Chamber’s Choice Presiding Officer gavels as well – Fernandez Castillo, Hidalgo-Gato, Gilberto Quintanilla Chapa, and Caden Sahlberg.
Wellington earned seven new National Speech & Debate Association degrees, including four new members of the largest public speaking honor society in the nation. Earning the Degree of Distinction (250+ points) were Brazzale and Cappelan, while Robert Haid earned his Degree of Honor (75+). Earning the Degree of Merit membership (25+) were Kalinah Medina, Isabella Otero, Maddox Pena, and Krishna Yarlagadda.