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Cavalier Invitational

Each January, the Durham Academy Speech & Debate program welcomes hundreds of students from around the nation for the Cavalier Invitational and Cavalier Survivor Challenge — an extended weekend of competition and community.

Cavalier Invitational

The 11th Annual Cavalier Invitational in 2025 drew 625 students from 51 schools — representing 15 different states and Taipei. The three-day tournament includes a variety of debate and speech events.

Cavalier Survivor Challenge

Following the Cavalier Invitational each year is the Cavalier Survivor Challenge, a forum in which 10 of the best debaters in Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, Extemporaneous Speaking and Congressional Debate compete in a unique, high-stakes competition.

DA Upper School students gather for a photo at the Cavalier Invitational speech and debate tournament.

Cavalier Invitational: Previous Champions

Overall Champion

2025: Cary Academy (NC) coached by RJ Pellicciotta, Willie Warren & Caleb Horowitz
2024: Cary Academy (NC) coached by RJ Pellicciotta, Willie Warren & Caleb Horowitz
2023: Cary Academy (NC) coached by RJ Pellicciotta, Willie Warren & Caleb Horowitz
2022: Trinity Preparatory School (FL) coached by Ben Gaddis, Cadi Kadlecek, Jacob Kaminski, Matthew Doggett & Dean Rhoads
2021: Trinity Preparatory School (FL) coached by Ben Gaddis & Dean Rhoads
2020: Ardrey Kell HS (NC) coached by Christopher Harrow
2019: Ardrey Kell HS (NC) coached by Christopher Harrow & Bilal Butt
2018: Cary Academy (NC) coached by RJ Pellicciotta & Shawn Nix
2017: Cumberland Poly HS (NC) coached by Sean Hanlin, Leneise Stackley, & Michelle Boswell
2016: Ardrey Kell HS (NC) coached by Christopher Harrow
2015: Cary Academy (NC) coached by RJ Pellicciotta & Alexandra Sencer

Oratorical Declamation

Dramatic Interpretation

2025: Claudia Colina, Ransom Everglades (FL)
2024: Tyler Crivella, Seven Lakes HS (TX)
2023: Samantha Manoloff, Hawken School (OH)
2022: Hezekiah Bryant, Cumberland Polytechnic HS (NC)
2021: Lillian Nguyen, Trinity Preparatory School (FL)
2020: Lillian Nguyen, Trinity Preparatory School (FL)
2019: Katherine Wellborn, Charlotte Catholic HS (NC)
2018: Grace Wissink, Cary Academy (NC)
2017: Jacob Branham, Cumberland Polytechnic HS (NC)
2016: Dakota Armstrong, Pinecrest HS (NC)
2015: Mason Auger, Pinecrest HS (NC)

Duo Interpretation

2025: Miranda Silva & Daniela Garcia, Ransom Everglades (FL)
2024: Grace Wallace & Tess Totten, Asheville HS (NC)
2023: Ben Hathaway & Krya Netting, Salem HS (VA)
2020: Olivia McCue & Kaylee Newcomer, Pinecrest HS (NC)
2019: Avideep Pradhan & Ethan Kim, Ardrey Kell HS (NC)
2018: Michael Garcia & Jacob Branham, Cumberland Polytechnic HS (NC)
2017: Forrester Welch & Bennett Jones, Charlotte Latin School (NC)
2016: Forrester Welch & Bennett Jones, Charlotte Latin School (NC)
2015: Jackie Cartwright & Brandon Sans, Cumberland International Early College HS (NC)

Extemporaneous Speaking

2025: Sven Stumbauer, Christopher Columbus HS (FL)
2024: Kajal Parmar, Cary Academy (NC)
2023: Taylor Burris, The Potomac School (VA)
2022: Jack Ververis, Trinity Preparatory School (FL)
2021: Kay Rollins, The Potomac School (VA)
2020: Sam Li, Hawken School (OH)
2019: Becca Segal, Cary Academy (NC)
2018: Anoova Guthikonda, Ardrey Kell HS (NC)
2017: Tom Rollins, The Potomac School (NC)
2016: Jack Beedle, Salem HS (VA)
2015: Samhitha Sunkara, Ardrey Kell HS (NC)

Humorous Interpretation

2025: Nicole Janoff, NSU University School (FL)
2024: Shriya Katukuri, Lake Highland Prep (FL)
2023: Arman Farshid, Lake Highland Prep (FL)
2022: Anjali Dadlani, Ridge HS (NJ)
2021: Jeremy Elwell, Desert Vista HS (AZ)
2020: Ethan Kim, Ardrey Kell HS (NC)
2019: Julian Price, North Mecklenburg HS (NC)
2018: Aman Singh, NC School of Science & Math (NC)
2017: Aman Singh, NC School of Science & Math (NC)
2016: Clay Cooper, Pinecrest HS (NC)
2015: Aman Singh, Ardrey Kell HS (NC)

Impromptu Speaking

Informative Speaking

2025: Eli Levy, American Heritage School - Palm Beach (FL)
2024: Sasha DiMare, American Heritage School - Palm Beach (FL)
2023: Rebeca Lopez-Anzures, American Heritage School - Palm Beach (FL)
2022: Adam Stone, Charlotte Latin School (NC)
2021: Adam Stone, Charlotte Latin School (NC)
2020: Nithya Gurumurthy, Ardrey Kell HS (NC)
2019: Christopher Murphy, Cumberland International Early College HS (NC)
2018: Christopher Murphy, Cumberland International Early College HS (NC)
2017: Jasmine Rainey, Cumberland Polytechnic HS (NC)
2016: Tangela Mitchell, Cumberland International Early College HS (NC)
2015: Michael Wellnitz, Cary HS (NC)

Oral Interpretation of Literature

2025: Murphy Slater, The Bronx HS of Science (NY)
2024: Tyler Crivella, Seven Lakes HS (FL)
2023: Colton Easter, Salem HS (VA)
2022: Aryan Bonyak, Huntington HS (WV)
2021: Enza Jones-Giugni, The Bronx HS of Science (NY)
2020: Brandon Criswell, Pinecrest HS (NC)
2019: Ella Leek, Sacred Heart Catholic School (MS)
2018: Leticia Tuset, Research Triangle HS (NC)
2017: Halal Little, Cary HS (NC)
2016: Clay Cooper, Pinecrest HS (NC)

Original Oratory

2025: Eli Levy, American Heritage School - Palm Beach (FL)
2024: Ashlan Smith, Lake Highland Preparatory School (FL
2023: Anna Berger, Cary Academy (NC)
2022: Jasmine Jean-Baptiste, Cumberland Polytechnic HS (NC)
2021: Christian Herald, The Potomac School (VA)
2020: Kiran Kadiyala, Pine View School (FL)
2019: Satya Khurana, North Mecklenburg HS (NC)
2018: Anoova Guthikonda, Ardrey Kell HS (NC)
2017: Evan Ehrhardt, Cary Academy (NC)
2016: Shreya Nandi, Ardrey Kell HS (NC)
2015: Michael Wellnitz, Cary HS (NC)

Programmed Oral Interpretation

2025: Lucas Sanchez, Ransom Everglades (FL)
2024: Aayna Bhatheja, Lake Highland Preparatory School (FL)
2023: Sydnie Hardin, Cumberland Polytechnic HS (NC)
2022: Yunseo Kim, Los Alamos HS (NM)
2021: Kyra Alston, Trinity Preparatory School (FL)
2020: Samantha Nguyen, Trinity Preparatory School (FL)
2019: Ella Leek, Sacred Heart Catholic School (MS)
2018: Sara Ali, Ravenwood HS (TN)
2017: Evan Ehrhardt, Cary Academy (NC)
2016: Oluchi Okafor, Cary HS (NC)

Congressional Debate

2025: Ishaan Quazi, Seven Lakes HS (TX)
2024: Breck DuPaul, Hawken School (OH)
2023: Michel Kaiser, American Heritage School - Palm Beach (FL)
2022: Mia Korsunsky, Adlai E Stevenson HS (IL)
2021: Kaushal Ramalingam, Dublin HS (CA)
2020: Zachary Xi, Naperville North HS (IL)
2019: Nathaniel Hylton, The Collegiate School (NY)
2018: Luke Tillitski, Charlotte Latin School (NC)
2017: Katherine Gan, William G Enloe HS (NC)
2016: Katherine Gan, William G Enloe HS (NC)
2015: Jackson Stafford, Cary Academy (NC)

Lincoln-Douglas Debate

2025: Patrick Liu, Cary Academy (NC) - Co-Champions
2024: Riley Ro, Cary Academy (NC) - Co-Champions
2023: Riley Ro, Cary Academy (NC) - Co-Champions
2023: Rebecca Liu, Cary Academy (NC) - Co-Champions
2022: Avik Agarwal, Edgemont Jr-Sr HS (NY)
2021: Lilly Broussard, Northland Chrisitan School (TX)
2020: Arpan Bagui, C. Leon King HS (FL)
2019: David Edwards, Charlotte Catholic HS (NC)
2018: Anna Marsicano, Ardrey Kell HS (NC)
2017: Grace Jin, Cary Academy (NC)
2016: Gayathri Das, Ardrey Kell HS (NC)
2015: Grace Jin, Cary Academy (NC)

Junior Varsity Lincoln-Douglas Debate

Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate

Public Forum Debate

2025: Cooper Li & Christopher Tang, Montgomery Blair HS (MD)
2024: Stella Wu & Brendon Chen, Taipei American School (TW)
2023: Mariana Gallo & Daria Smirnova, The Bronx HS of Science (NY)
2022: Claudia Leduc & Jonah Sah, Poly Prep Country Day (NY) - Co-Champions
2022: Ishan Dubey & David Kennedy, Strake Jesuit (TX) - Co-Champions
2021: Roy Tiefer & Eli Glickman, Bethesda Chevy Chase HS (MD)
2020: Sukhm Kang & Sai Karnati, University School (OH) - Co-Champions
2020: Abraham Paik & Daniel Yan, University School (OH) - Co-Champions
2019: Gavin Gwaltney & Gauruv Singh, Charlotte Latin School (NC)
2018: Callan Hazeldine & Christian Brown, Ardrey Kell HS (NC)
2017: Paul Snyder & Emma Smits, Pinecrest HS (NC)
2016: Sebastian Ix & Hunter Martin, Pinecrest HS (NC)
2015: Sebastian Ix & Hunter Martin, Pinecrest HS (NC)

Junior Varsity Public Forum Debate

Novice Public Forum Debate

Jeffrey B. Welty Award

2025: VPF - Sanjun Li, Montgomery Blair HS (MD)
2025: NPF - RJ Pellicciotta, Cary Academy (NC)
2024: VPF - Chase Williams, Taipei American School (TW)
2024: NPF - RJ Pellicciotta, Cary Academy (NC)
2023: VPF - Timothy Huth, The Bronx HS of Science (NY)
2023: NPF - RJ Pellicciotta, Cary Academy (NC)
2022: VPF - Devon Weis, Poly Prep Country Day School (NY)
2022: VPF - Jerry Crist & Neo Curry, Strake Jesuit Preparatory School (TX)
2022: JVPF - Anna Brent-Levenstein & Emma Smith, Durham Academy (NC)
2022: NPF - Ben Gaddis & Jacob Kaminski, Trinity Preparatory School (FL)

Cross-Examination Debate

Cavalier Survivor Challenge: Previous Champions

Public Forum

2025: Ezekiel Ehrenberg & Romir Patel, The Delbarton School (NJ)
2024: Bailey Koh & Ayan Bakshi, Southlake Carroll HS (TX)
2023: Ishan Dubey & John Yates, Strake Jesuit Preparatory School (TX)
2022: Spencer Adams & Sienna Staver, The Potomac School (VA)
2021: JJ Yu & Rebecca Solomon, The Dalton School (NY)
2020: Sukhm Kang & Sai Karnati, University School (OH)
2019: Albi Manfredi & Andrew Huang, Lake Mary Prep (FL) - Co-Champion
2019: Callan Hazeldine & Christian Brown, Ardrey Kell HS (NC) - Co-Champion

Lincoln-Douglas

2025: Reese Potash & Jack Gessner, Harrison HS (NY)
2024: Riley Ro & Derek Han, Cary Academy (NC)
2023: Andrew Brandt, Isidore Newman School (LA)
2022: Avik Agarwal, Edgemont Jr-Sr HS (NY)
2021: Lilly Broussard, Northland Christian School (TX)
2020: Bennett Dombcik, Durham Academy (NC) - Co-Champion
2020: Nethmin Liyanage, The Hill School (PA) - Co-Champion

Congressional Debate

Extemporaneous Speaking

Robert Sheard Excellence in Coaching Award

2025: Ben Denton, Pinecrest HS (NC)
2025: Jeff Welty, Cedar Ridge HS (NC)
2024: Courtney Coffman, Northland Christian School (TX)
2024: Chase Williams, Taipei American School (TW)
2023: Nathan Johnston, Lake Highland Prep (FL)
2022: Brittany Stanchik, Desert Vista HS (AZ)
2022: RJ Pellicciotta, Cary Academy (NC)
2021: Cyndy Woodhouse, John F Kennedy HS (IA)
2021: Mario Herrera, Henry W Grady HS/Midtown HS (GA)
2020: Helen Freeman, Huntington HS (WV)
2020: Jonathan Peele, Charlotte Latin School (NC)
2019: Alexandra Sencer, The Collegiate School (NY)
2019: Keith Pittman, Asheville HS (NC)
2018: Harry Strong, The Potomac School (VA)
2017: Shannon Jarman, Cumberland International Early College HS (NC)
2016: Robert Sheard, NSU University School (FL)