The team took on one of its most competitive challenges of the season at the Texas Forensic Association State Tournament, facing top competitors from across the state in a high-stakes environment.

Unlike local invitationals, TFA State requires students to qualify through months of competition, making it one of the most selective and demanding tournaments of the year. Competitors entered after accumulating points across multiple meets, stepping into rounds filled with some of the strongest speakers and debaters in Texas.

“[The] TFA State Tournament is a lot different than other local tournaments that we competed in because it’s… the entire state,” junior Nikhil Sridharan said. “These are some of the best of the best people in the state that we’re going up against.”

As the tournament progressed, students were forced to adapt quickly, refining both content and delivery under pressure. Many used the experience as a benchmark for future competitions.

“This tournament made me learn a lot about what I need to focus on, especially with my delivery of my speech,” Sridharan said.

In addition to individual growth, the team delivered strong results, including multiple quarterfinal placements and historic achievements for the program.

“The team did fairly well, we made history twice,” Sridharan said. “We had a debate champion and two speech finalists for a duet.”

Even for those who faced difficult rounds, the tournament provided valuable insight into the level of competition required to advance.

“The most challenging round I faced was where I had seven competitors, all of them were extremely well,” junior Ishika Jha said. “I felt like my speech was lacking in front of theirs.”

Despite the challenges, students emphasized that the experience ultimately strengthened their skills and preparation for future competitions.

“Because of this, I now understand the structure significantly better,” Jha said.

With lessons learned from TFA State, the team now looks ahead to upcoming national-level competitions, aiming to build on their progress against even tougher fields.