Coaches

Coach Abigail is an accomplished coach and debate competitor who aims to help Potomac students reach their full potential. With her extensive experience across all debate events, Abigail qualified for nationals every year, won multiple state championships and national titles, and ranked among the top 10 competitors worldwide by the National Speech and Debate Association. As a coach, Abigail is passionate about mentoring young people and gives back to the community by volunteering for the national urban debate league. She judges and coaches almost every weekend for the nonprofit organization Chicago Debates, where she was awarded the prestigious “New Coach of the Year” award. Abigail firmly believes that debate education shapes students’ academic futures, as she has personally experienced the benefits of her own competitive spirit in both tournaments and university studies. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Science (Psychology) from the University of Chicago, and dual Bachelor’s degrees in Forensic Psychology and Sociology, all of which she obtained before the age of 20.

Coach Alex has years of instructional experience, teaching debate at several camps/programs including Platinum Debate Institute, Victory Briefs Institute, the Bronx High School of Science, and Potomac Debate Academy. Alex is currently pursuing a Bachelors of Science in International Affairs & International Business from Northeastern University. A former competitor for Hawken School, Alex reached deep elimination rounds at Blue Key, Glenbrooks, Sunvite, Bronx Science, Durham, as well as several speaker awards at TOC, Stanford, Sunvite and more. They were a 2x TOC qualifier, achieving 6 career gold bids. As a coach, Alex specializes in rebuttal strategy and progressive debate techniques in PF. Their students have gone on to qualify for and break at the TOC and win the NYSFL State Championship. Alex’s favorite part of debate is watching students increase their understanding of the world around them. Outside of coaching, Alex enjoys reading, exploring the outdoors, and trying new foods.

Coach Ayanava is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Molecular Biology at Princeton University, with an anticipated graduation in 2025. Ayanava’s expertise lies in argument generation, case writing, and summary strategy. His experience as an educator began as Team Captain at Bronx High School and continued with his work in the classroom at various debate institutions. Ayanava qualified to the NCFL Nationals and TOC three times with a total of 7 career bids. He advanced to elimination rounds at the Tournament of Champions, Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Glenbrooks, and more. Ayanava’s coaching approach is interactive and student-centric, focusing on active participation through drills and mock debates. He takes pride in watching his novice and JV students grow passionate about debate, a testament to his successful coaching methods. Outside coaching, his interests span playing soccer, guitar, baking, hiking, and consuming diverse media. Additionally, he volunteers at the Penn Medical Center and advocates for health justice with the Service Focus Cohort at Princeton.

Coach Christine is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at the University of Pennsylvania. She brings years of debate instruction experience, including teaching roles at Beyond Resolved, Potomac Debate Academy, and Penn4Youth. As a competitor, Christine bidded at major tournaments like Harvard and Stanford, qualifying to the Tournament of Champions (Gold). Her favorite aspect of coaching is witnessing the enthusiasm and eagerness of students to learn new concepts. Outside of debate, Christine is an avid drawer of sea animals, a coffee enthusiast, and actively contributes to nonprofits and microfinance clubs, emphasizing her commitment to community service and personal development.

Colter Heirigs has been coaching speech and debate since 2014. In his time coaching, his teams have twice won the NSDA’s National Debate School of Excellence Award, and have won 7 State Championships. Colter has coached debaters to the late elimination rounds of tournaments including Harvard, Blake, NSDA Nationals, NCFL Grand Nationals, and countless other regional tournaments. Highlights from this past season include: coaching the 3rd seed, 6th speaker, and 7th speaker in Lincoln Douglas Debate at the Harvard Invitational, coaching a pair of sophomores to place 5th in the nation in Policy Debate @ NCFL Grand National Championship, coaching a sophomore to place 10th @ NSDA National Championship in Lincoln Douglas Debate, coaching a sophomore to beat the top seed at the Tournament of Champions and auto-qualify to the 2023-24 TOC, and coaching sophomores to auto-qualify to the 2023-24 NSDA National Championship, and NCFL Grand Nationals. In his time coaching at Aberdeen Central, he was awarded the Donus D. Roberts Coaching Excellence Award by the NSDA, qualified 8 policy teams to NSDA Nationals in 7 years, and coached 10 teams to the Semi-Final round or better of the State Tournament, coming one ballot shy of closing out the final round of Policy Debate in 2017, 2019, and 2020.

Coach Daniel is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Economics at Dartmouth College. Daniel has coached middle and high school Public Forum debate for several years, proudly helping their students be accepted to top private schools and the US National Debate Team. A former student, Daniel competed with Potomac Debate Academy for four years, ranking top 15 in the United States in 2021, and receiving 4 career bids to the TOC. Daniel believes that their job as a coach is to equip students with the skills necessary to succeed in debate. Coach Daniel’s favorite aspect of teaching is making their students laugh. Beyond coaching, Daniel is an accomplished pianist working through Rachmaninoff’s piano preludes, enjoys running, playing poker, and spending time with their cat, Clem.

Coach Dylan brings half a decade of coaching experience to Potomac Debate Academy. Currently pursuing a BS in Computer Science at UNLV, Dylan competed for Coronado High School for several years. As a competitor, Dylan amassed six career bids, reached late elimination rounds at the NSDA National Tournament, and was the Nevada State Champion in PF Debate. Dylan’s students have received dozens of bids and qualified to the TOC and reached late elimination rounds at the TOC and NSDA National Tournament, as well as other major tournaments including Harvard University, Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, and Berkely. Dylan enjoys coaching at Potomac Debate Academy because students are able to meet a wide variety of different coaches, which lets them get instruction from coaches with varying specialties. Outside of debate, Dylan enjoys reading, Chess, and watching football/basketball.

Coach Georgia competed for Richard Montgomery High School for three years where she won awards at major tournaments including Lakeland, The Ed Long Invitational, Georgetown, the UK Season Opener, Stanford, and more. She has coached and judged for Potomac Debate Academy since 2022, as well as Speak Up and Mathnasium for several years. Her coaching philosophy centers on the belief that every debate round should teach you something new and change your mindset a little bit. She is pursuing a BA in History from the University of Chicago. Outside of debate, Georgia enjoys being involved in political campaigning, working for her school theater, and embroidery.

A 2023 Rutgers law grad, and newly minted corporate litigator, Haley graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2019 where she majored in government. In law school, Haley won the David Cohn appellate advocacy competition earning her a spot on the national team where she led Rutgers as the lead oralist to the semi-finals in the regional American Bar Association National Appellate Advocacy Competition. While at UT, Haley was a part of the Texas Speech Team that brought home the programs’ historic three-pete AFA National Championship Title. Haley has reached late-out rounds at major national tournaments in platform, extemporaneous, and parliamentary debate. In 2016, she championed the Texas state tournament in parliamentary debate. In high school, she was a national finalist in PF debate in the ICC league. Coach Haley brings over ten years of speech and debate experience to her students. Her coaching philosophy is grounded in helping students achieve their goals through consistent efforts, and tailoring programs to meet each student’s needs and abilities. Haley is excited to teach debaters how to tell compelling and winning stories every round for every judge. Outside of coaching, she enjoys museum hopping and trying new coffee shops.

Coach Ilana competed in Public Forum debate at The Dalton School for 3 years where they were a two time qualifier for the Tournament of Champions, placed 15th at the NSDA National Tournament, and received awards at many national tournaments including Ridge, Villiger, and Princeton. Since graduating, Ilana has earned a degree in English Literature and Language from the University of Oxford. Ilana has coached at Potomac Debate Academy since 2019, among other teaching roles including summer camp debate instructing at UTNIF, NSD, Summit Debate, Magnolia Debate, and VBI. Ilana has taught critical thinking and argumentation courses for The Dalton School and The University of Oxford. Ilana has coached students to high levels of success, including coaching one of the only all female teams to champion the NSDA National Tournament. Outside of debate, Ilana volunteers for the Safe Passage Program and enjoys bouldering, reading, and photography. Ilana’s favorite aspect of coaching is seeing students accomplish things that they never believed they could do, and they can’t wait to see what students accomplish this year!

Coach Jennifer is a Criminal Justice Professor, Retired Criminal, Family and International Attorney and High School Instructor. She has a Juris Doctorate as well as a Post Doctorate in Criminal and International Law and is currently ABD for a Ph.D. in sociology/criminology. She has coached multiple circuits for almost 20 years and has coached many State Champions and National Qualifiers. She specializes in Public Forum, Lincoln Douglas and Domestic and International Extemporaneous Speaking as well as many Speech Events. She was a High School Coach for 10 years on the NSDA circuit, going to many State and District competitions. During High School she competed in Speech and Debate events, and during Law School she made both her first-and second-year debate teams, moving on to finals to argue in front of International Judges at the Jessup Tournament in Toronto as well as finals in debate at Cornell Law School. She believes in using a student-centered approach and enjoys working on organizational and speaking skills as well as creative policy arguments.

Coach Katie is currently studying for her B.A. in History at Princeton University. She competed in Speech and Debate for four years at Trinity Preparatory School, achieving significant milestones, including winning Silver at the TOC as a sophomore, octo-finaling at Florida’s state tournament and the NCFL National tournament, and qualifying thrice for TOC, NCFL, and NSDA nationals. Katie believes in the mantra “practice makes perfect,” emphasizing the importance of speech rehearsals and mock debates. Her approach to coaching combines a deep understanding of student perspectives with a commitment to thorough practice and excellence. Apart from coaching, Katie enjoys running, climbing, gardening, and is actively involved in campus organizations.

Coach Keith has been involved in forensics for almost 20 years. A self-proclaimed jock turned theater kid, he was drawn to forensics as a way to improve his approaches to schoolwork. He quickly fell in love with argumentation theory and excelled in limited prep events and public forum debate in high school. While in college at North Dakota State University Keith qualified every event he competed in (which was often five or six speech events and at least one form of debate) every year he competed. Keith also started his coaching career at North Dakota State University, leading them to a 10th place finish in the limited entry division in just his second year coaching. He has helped coach speech and debate at a variety of high schools in Minnesota since 2015, and has helped to develop a rural debate program that helps to assist smaller schools/programs to establish forensics programs. Keith has his BS in Public Relations and Advertising and his MA in Communication Studies from North Dakota State University and his EdD in Educational Leadership from Hamline University. Outside of teaching and forensics Keith likes to spend time outside with his family, playing baseball, and cooking.

Coach Kristen is currently pursuing a double major in Philosophy and Medical Anthropology at Swarthmore College. With four years of coaching experience, Kristen’s specialty lies in working with younger students, focusing on building round narratives and honing analytical thinking skills. She began her debate journey as team captain at Wootton HS where she received major awards including 3rd at the International Public Policy Forum (a global championship) and 2nd place speaker at Varsity Club Nationals. Her experience as a coach is comprehensive, coaching a team of 50+ at Wootton HS, led classes with over 300+ ES and MS students at RDA, and has privately tutored debaters. Kristen’s coaching philosophy is centered around boosting confidence and encouraging students to come out of their shell. She finds working with young learners especially rewarding, admiring their passion and drive. Outside coaching, Kristen enjoys movies, outdoor activities like hiking and bird-watching, and is involved in filmmaking.

Coach Lars is an aspiring Neuroscience major from the University of Texas at Austin, projected to graduate in Spring 2025. With years of coaching and debating experience, Lars specializes in narrative summary strategy, efficient case construction, and judge adaptation. As a competitor, he achieved impressive feats, including qualifying for NSDA nationals each year, reaching quarters at TFA State and NDCA Nationals, earning three gold bids in his senior year, and securing top placements in various local and national competitions. Lars’ coaching philosophy emphasizes simplifying complex arguments into clear, nuanced messages, crucial in Public Forum where flexibility and adaptability are key. His favorite aspect of coaching is witnessing students’ growth, both in competitive success and in overcoming public speaking fears. Apart from coaching, Lars is a talented jazz pianist, enjoys playing soccer, running, and volunteers as an EMT.

Coach Lily has been a member of Potomac Debate Academy for nearly a decade, joining in middle school, then taking on the role of Team Captain before becoming a debate coach. Lily competed for River Hill High School, where they won major accolades including accumulating multiple Gold Bids to and qualifying for the Tournament of Champions, Co-Championing the NSDA Season Opener, and winning the 2023 World Championship of the International Public Policy Forum. As a coach, Lily has taught debate and public speaking the Howard County Chinese School Summer Session and received numerous Teaching Excellence and Mentorship Awards. Their favorite aspect of coaching is seeing students have that breakthrough moment when they are able to do something they previously couldn’t. Lily is currently pursuing pre-law track at Princeton University. They are very involved in their community, including being part of the 2024 Distinguished Young Woman of Maryland; Co-Founder of Project Lotus, AAPI Youth Advocacy Organization; Student Commissioner and Corresponding Secretary of the Howard County AAPI Commission. Outside of debate, Lily enjoys viola and spending time with friends and family.

A graduate of the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Minor in Mass Communication, Coach Maddie is a dedicated and experienced Speech and Debate coach. She teaches debate to all ages and learning levels, specializing in refutation, weighing, persuasive speaking, and round strategy. As a competitor, Maddie qualified twice for the Tournament of Champions, the National Speech and Debate Tournament, and the Minnesota State Tournament, also earning recognition as team captain and PF team of the year at Lakeville South High School. Her coaching successes include qualifying students yearly to the TOC, NSDA National Tournament, and Minnesota State tournament. Her students consistently advance to late elimination rounds at national circuit tournaments such as Blake, Apple Valley, Dowling, Millard North, and more. Recently, she coached a PF team to champion the annual Yale University invitational and another student to place quarterfinals at the NIE Tournament of Champions. Maddie’s coaching philosophy underscores hard work and personal goal achievement, aiming to impart lifelong skills through speech and debate. Outside coaching, Maddie enjoys writing, reading, attending plays, musicals, concerts, and engaging in political activism.

Coach Mai has taught with Potomac Debate Academy for four years. A graduate of Florida State University in Interdisciplinary Social Science with a Religious Studies Minor, Mai is currently pursuing a J.D. from Arizona State University, class of 2024. He has worked for the Department of Justice, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Transportation. His students have experienced significant success, championing the 2021 NSDA National Tournament, becoming finalists in the 2020 Harvard University tournament, and 2021 Stanford University semifinalists, among many others. His coaching philosophy centers on giving students a big picture understanding of every topic that can serve students in every area of their lives. Outside of debate, Mai enjoys reading, video games, history, and food.

Coach Melinda is pursuing an Economics (BS) and Plan II (BA) at UT Austin. A recent graduate, Melinda competed for A&M Consolidated for four years. Throughout her time competing, she won many accolades including qualifying to TOC Silver 1x and Gold 2x. She was a 3x NSDA National Qualifier, and reached elimination rounds. At the state level, she was a TFA Extemporaneous Speaking quarterfinalist, Public Forum octafinalist, and 7th speaker. Her students have reached deep elimination rounds at the TOC. Since graduating, she has worked for several debate camps including Victory Briefs Institute: Philadelphia & LA & National Symposium for Debate: Philadelphia. Her coaching philosophy centers on student engagement and practice, teaching how to execute certain skills or strategies, then transitions to student-focused practice of those skills. Beyond debate, she enjoys baking and social outings with friends.

A finance major at the University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business, Coach Mika brings three years of coaching experience to Potomac Debate Academy. As a student, Mika competed for Westwood High School, ranking as high as top 10 in the state and top 32 in the nation. Mika reached late elimination rounds at major tournaments including Jack Howe, Grapevine, and Bronx, and qualified to the Tournament of Champions. As a coach, Mika’s students have received local, state, and national accolades. Coach Mika believes that practice makes perfect, aiming to facilitate hands-on instruction in the classroom. Outside of debate, Mika enjoys cooking and pilates, andis a volunteer at a women’s shelter.

Coach Noah has been involved in speech & debate for over 10 years. He joined Potomac Debate as a travel coach in spring 2018 and now coaches in the classroom, teaching both public speaking and public forum debate. As a competitor, Noah reached late out-rounds at major national tournaments, qualifying to NFL Nationals and the Tournament of Champions twice. In 2016, he championed the Texas state tournament in parliamentary debate. His students have experienced great success, championing Harvard multiple times, over a dozen qualifiers to the Tournament of Champions, and reaching late out-rounds at Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and more. Noah believes that his success as a coach is measured by how much my students believe I care about their success. Each day, he strives to teach speech and debate to the best of his ability, but also to demonstrate that he cares about each student’s path and success outside of speech and debate. Outside of coaching, he enjoys camping and learning Japanese.

Pranav is a sophomore at the University of Maryland. In high school, he debated for Potomac Debate Academy and Thomas S. Wootton High School, serving as captain for both. Throughout his four years, he’s qualified to the Tournament of Champions as well as reached late elimination rounds at UPenn, George Mason, Sunvite, Dowling, Durham, and others

A dedicated educator in Speech and Debate, Coach Rachel’s teaching philosophy centers on flexibility and catering to the unique needs of each student, with a focus on their holistic growth and success. Rachel earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Arkansas in May 2019 and her Masters in Education from the University of Arkansas Little Rock in December 2020. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University, expecting to graduate in December 2025. With six years of coaching experience, Rachel specializes in Public Forum, Speech, Congress, World Schools, Policy, and Lincoln Douglas debates. Her coaching career includes roles at Bentonville High School, Bentonville West High School, and Cabot High School, where she served as the Director of Speech and Debate. Rachel’s students have achieved notable successes, including multiple Ivy League acceptances, state championships, and national competition advancements. Her favorite aspect of coaching is witnessing students’ progress from their first day to their final competition. Outside of coaching, Rachel enjoys listening to music, cooking, traveling, and organizing community projects with students.

Coach Ray brings a decade of experience in Speech and Debate. A graduate of the University of Virginia, Ray specialized in Policy Debate and Prose/Poetry during his high school years. He has worked in a variety of educational capacities, as a head coach, private tutor, and Drama and Speech teacher for nearly a decade. Ray has coached numerous students to NSDA and NCFL Nationals, including a Tournament of Champions’ first-place POI speaker. Ray’s coaching ethos revolves around the empowerment that comes from public speaking, considering it a vital tool for personal development. His dedication extends beyond coaching, with active involvement in his local theater community and a passion for musical theater and current events. His commitment to teaching spans all age groups, emphasizing the importance of communication skills at every stage of life. Coach Ray looks forward to continuing his impactful work, fostering confidence and growth in his students.

Coach Raymond joined Potomac Debate Academy in seventh grade where he competed for Winston Churchill High School and stepped into a team captain role his senior year. Now pursuing a degree in International Politics at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, Raymond brings years of debate experience to Potomac Debate. As a competitor, he was ranked top 10 in the nation by the NSDA, reaching elimination rounds and/or top speaker awards at major tournaments including University of Michigan, Columbia University, Seattle University, University of Pennsylvania, New York City Invitational, and many more. In total, Raymond amassed five career bids and qualified twice for the Tournament of Champions, reaching elimination round his sophomore year. His teaching philosophy focuses on the holistic development of debaters, helping students build the confidence that will empower them in any conversation they engage in, whether it would be for future class presentations or college interviews. Raymond is a firm believer that debate isn’t merely an activity; instead, it’s a gateway to shaping outspoken leaders. In his free time, Raymond enjoys badminton and biking.

​Coach Renee competed in Public Forum debate at Plano West Senior High School for four years, where they served as team captain. During their career, Renee amassed five bids, qualifying to both the Tournament of Champions and NSDA National Tournament twice. In addition, they qualified to the TFA State Tournament three times where they notably reached quarterfinals. They reached deep elimination rounds at Harvard, Stanford, Grapevine, Bronx, UK Season Opener, Yale, and more, as well as receiving invitations to Blake, Capital City, Strake, and Harvard. Their junior year, Renee placed 8th at the NSDA National Tournament. Renee is currently pursuing a degree from Georgetown Unviersity.

 

Coach Ruby has taught with Potomac Debate Academy since 2021. A former competitor for Westridge School, Ruby qualified to the NSDA National Tournament and Tournament of Champions in Domestic Extemp, Impromptu, and Public Forum. They succeeded at major tournaments, including championing Jack Howe and semi-finaling at the California State Championship. Their students have qualified to the TOC, advanced to elimination rounds, and won speaker awards. Ruby believes that all students approach this activity with different natural and acquired skills, and students have a lot to learn from one another. They believe that, ultimately, speech and debate is about communicating your ideas as clearly and effectively as possible, and we can learn from all the different people in our classes what kinds of communication are effective. Ruby is currently pursuing an Elementary Education and Spanish Dual Degree at American University. They are involved in mutual aid, the Disabled Student Union, and are a teacher’s assistant. Outside of debate, they enjoy cooking and baking, and their two cats.

Coach Saif joined Potomac Debate Academy as an instructor in the summer of 2021. Saif competed for Stuyvesant High School for four years, where he reached out rounds at a number of national tournaments, including Yale, Georgetown, Scarsdale, and many others. Saif’s coaching philosophy centers on creating a collaborative learning environment, with the goal of learning exactly what a student’s strengths and weaknesses are and collectively, working together to lift those up. Saif graduated from Hunter College with a degree in Religion, Political Science and Human Rights in 2019 and is currently pursuing his JD from Yale Law School, class of 2024. Outside of debate, Saif has recently been exploring Dungeons and Dragons as well as enjoying traveling, having visited Ghana and South Korea.

Saumya has been coaching Speech and Debate for eight years, in a variety of events including Public Forum, Interpretation, Limited Prep, Public Announcement, and Congressional Debate. She competed for Edina High School and received her B.S. in Public Health from American University in 2022. As a competitor, Saumya was ranked in the Top 10 in interpretation and congressional debate in Minnesota from 2013-2018. Her students have gone on to qualify for and reach elimination rounds at the NSDA National Tournament, NIETOC, and Tournament of Champions. Outside of debate, Saumya volunteers for Jeevan Jyoti Institute for the Disabled, So Others May Eat Isaiah House Homelessness Day Center, Iona Senior Services, and several more organizations. Her favorite aspect of coaching is helping students to become confident and excited about their individual growth. She looks forward to helping students explore their passions this summer!

Coach Shevani competed for Richard Montgomery High School for 4 years and has since coached at Potomac Debate Academy. As a competitor, Shevani qualified for the Tournament of Champions and won many awards at both the local and national level. Her philosophy on teaching debate focuses on the belief that anyone can become a successful debater/public speaker. As a student, Shevani was terrified of public speaking but has since developed the ability to seamlessly give speeches and presentations and believes that with enough practice and dedication, all students can develop this skill. Shevani graduated from Georgetown University with a Bachelor in International Politics in 2023, where she was involved in South Asian community activism. For fun, Shevani enjoys running, hiking, reading, and traveling!

Coach Theo is currently pursuing a BA in Computer Science and Economics at Harvard University. Theo competed for Newton South High School for four years. Theo was an NSDA Academic All-American, NSDA All State, received the NSDA Outstanding Distinction award, and ranked top competitor in Massachusetts in PF Debate by the NSDA. He received 8 total bids to the TOC (Gold and SIlver), and championed major tournaments including Columbia University, Blake, and the Presentation Round Robin. He was a Top 16 debater at the National Speech and Debate Tournament, and a Tournament of Champions semifinalist in 2021 and quarterfinalist in 2022. Since graduating, Theo has worked at the NSD summer debate camp, ASDAN China, tutored privately, and worked with Potomac Debate Academy. At the majority of tournaments he has coached, Theo’s students have received gold bids to the TOC. His coaching philosophy is that every round is an important opportunity for growth, especially the losses. Beyond coaching, Theo enjoys chess, poker, DJ-ing, and frisbee.

Coach Xuechen is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, with a focus on Finance and Statistics. With three years of Public Forum debate coaching experience, Xuechen specializes in judge adaptation and second speaking strategies. Xuechen’s journey in debate began at Westlake High School, where she achieved remarkable accomplishments, including ranking as the 6th speaker at the Tournament of Champions, 1st speaker at the Harvard Round Robin, and qualifying three times for the TOC and four times for TFA State. Her coaching career spans prestigious summer camps like VBI, Platinum Debate, and NSD, along with her current role at Potomac Debate Academy. Her coaching philosophy is about giving students an edge in clearly conveying their victory in debates. Outside of coaching, her interests include reading, running, exploring new restaurants, and participating in investing clubs at Wharton.

A former Potomac debater and team captain, Coach Abigail competed at Winston Churchill High School where she began debating in eighth grade. Abigail is currently studying Government and Economics at Georgetown University (Class of 2027). As a competitor, she reached elimination rounds at major tournaments including TOC DSDS, Golden Desert, Ridge Debates, the Milo Cup at Millard North, the University of Michigan, Stanford University, and the University of Pennsylvania. She reached octo-finals at the 2022 Gold Tournament of Champions and placed #32 at the 2023 NSDA Nationals Tournament. Since graduating, she has coached at Dynamic Debate Academy and NSD, Public Forum Academy, and Victory Briefs Institute. As a coach, Abigail specializes in back-half strategy, rebuttal argumentation, advanced comparative weighing, and theory arguments. Her coaching philosophy centers on helping students grow – not just through wins or losses – but as competitors, teammates, and people. She hopes to support and encourage her students to not only put in the hard work, but to truly enjoy debate as an activity. Abigail is deeply invested in her community, having founded an organization dedicated to expanding accessible resources to low-income debaters, working with Students Demand Action to advocate for legislative reform, and interned with a grassroots movement dedicated to international poverty reduction. Outside of debate, she enjoys running and working out, watching movies, and hanging out with friends.

Coach AJ is currently pursuing a dual concentration in Computer Science-Economics and Public Health at Brown University (Class of 2026). A former Potomac Debate Academy student, AJ competed for Richard Montgomery for four years, where they were debate team captain for two years as well as a Potomac Debate team co-captain. As a competitor, AJ qualified to the TOC (silver) their freshman and sophomore year, and TOC Gold as well as NSDSA Nationals their junior year. They received top awards at Lexington, Bronx, Presentation, and Capitol Beltway. AJ’s coaching philosophy is centered around students gaining true value from debate. While they hope that the students they teach know more about each topic they’ve researched, AJ hopes to see them develop skills transferable to daily life, such as problem-solving, perseverance, communication, teamwork, etc. Outside of debate, AJ enjoys biking, reading, and constructing crosswords.

A Global Business major at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service (Class of 2027), Coach Anirudh specializes in lay/flay/flow substance debate, round vision, and judge adaptation. Anirudh was an accomplished competitor for Durham Academy for four years, leading the debate team as a Co-Captain and was an instructor at the NOVA summer debate camp. Anirudh has a long list of accomplishments, including championing Yale University, the UK Season Opener, Duke University, and reaching late elimination rounds at many other major tournaments such as Stanford, Princeton, and Harvard. Anirudh was a Co-Champion of the Tarheel Forensic League State Championship, ranking #1 Speech and Debater in North Carolina and top 20 PF Debater nationwide. In the 2022-23 season, the NDCA ranked him #1 Public Forum Team in the NDCA Averill (PF) Standings. Coach Anirudh’s teaching philosophy caters to student’s strengths and allows them to determine which type of debater they want to be. Beyond debate, Anirudh enjoys working out, exploring new music, hiking, and playing sports.

 

Coach Ben has been involved in Speech and Debate for nearly a decade. A Mathematics graduate from the University of Chicago, Ben specializes in technical casing, theory, and back-half strategy. Ben competed in Public Forum and Parliamentary debate at The Nueva School for three years, where he championed major tournaments including the Berkeley Invitation and Round Robin and reached elimination rounds at the Tournament of Champions. As a coach, his students have championed national tournaments and qualified to the TOC and NSDA Nationals. His coaching philosophy is centered around personalized feedback and methods, tailoring his approach to match each student’s goals and skill levels. Ben takes pride in watching his students grow, improve, and achieve their set goals. Beyond debate, his interests include soccer, scientific research in a biochemistry lab, teaching, music, and volunteering in communities he feels connected to, such as refereeing youth soccer and working at local hospitals.

Charles is a junior pursuing a degree in Business/Economics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He competed for Richard Montgomery High School as a member of the Potomac Debate Team for four years. Throughout his time competing, he reached elimination rounds at many national circuit tournaments including Harvard University, Princeton University, Yale University, Columbia University, and many more. He was a quarterfinalist at the University of Pennsylvania, championed the University of Michigan debate tournament, and reached elimination rounds at the Tournament of Champions several years in a row. Outside of debate, Charles volunteers by promoting financial literacy through advocacy, non-profit consulting with Heifer International, and enjoys piano, swimming, and traveling. As a former Potomac Debater, Charles believes PDA has some of the best debaters in the country, and is excited to help them reach their goals this year!

An alumni of Potomac Debate Academy, Coach Christina is currently pursuing a B.S. in Business Administration with a minor in Political Science at the University of Southern California. As a student, Christina competed for Thomas S. Wootton for three years where she qualified to NSDA Nationals and the Tournament of Champions and won numerous awards at major tournaments such as Dowling, Lakelands, and Yale University. After graduating, Christina went on to coach at Public Forum Academy and Victory Briefs Institute, in addition to her role at Potomac Debate Academy. Her area of expertise as a coach is focused on developing students’ second half strategy, weighing skills, and understanding of lay debate. Christina’s favorite part of coaching is being able to foster a student’s individual debate and speaking styles, rather than sticking to any one formula for success. Outside of coaching, Christina works as DEI Director and Project Manager for a pro-bono social impact consulting organization at USC and enjoys weightlifting, hiking, and exploring new foods.

Coach Emma debated for four years at National Cathedral School, where she was the debate captain from 2019 – 2023 and Team Captain at Potomac Debate Academy from 2022-2023. Throughout her career, she reached deep elimination rounds a major tournaments including Princeton University, Cypress the Tradition, qualifying to the Strake Jesuit Round Robin, and winning speaker awards at many tournaments. As a coach, Emma’s students have gone on to qualify for the Tournament of Champions. Her favorite aspect of coaching is helping to come up with nuanced responses to arguments in rebuttal and to strategize the most efficient ways to break down an argument. Emma is currently pursuing a double major in ​​Electrical/Computer Engineering and CS at Duke University, where she is involved in service clubs teaching STEM in the Durham community. Outside of debate, she enjoys running, reading science-fiction and is a self-proclaimed foodie.

A former Potomac Debate Academy student, Coach Jennifer competed at Richard Montgomery HS for four years and the USA Debate Team for two years. Jennifer was the 2021 NSDA National Champion. She accumulated nine bids to the Tournament of CHampions and reached semi-finals or finals at major tournaments including Yale, Stanford, Harvard, and Georgetown. Jennifer enjoys teaching at Potomac Debate Academy because she is grateful for her experience as a student and how it impacted her career, and hopes to give back to other students, to help them experience the same joy and personal development from debate. Outside of debate, Jennifer likes to travel and read books.

Coach Jessica is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s in Economics and Statistics at Harvard University. A graduate of Holton-Arms School, Jessica broke records as the first team in her school history to receive a bid to the Tournament of Champions, among other accolades including championing the University of Pennsylvania tournament. Jessica’s coaching philosophy is deeply rooted in the belief that debate skills are accessible and enjoyable for everyone. She takes pride in helping students navigate through challenging aspects of debate and witnessing their breakthroughs and achievements. Beyond her coaching role, Jessica has a diverse set of interests including reading, running, skiing, and socializing with friends. She is also deeply involved in community initiatives, having served as a director for the non-profit Girls For Business, aimed at educating and inspiring young girls in business.

Coach Leon, a sophomore Finance Major at the University of Minnesota, brings three years of coaching experience to Potomac Debate Academy. Leon, a graduate of the Blake School in 2022, has held roles at Harvard Debate Council Summer Workshops, Beyond Resolved summer camp, and as a senior captain of Blake’s debate team. Leon’s competitive achievements are impressive, with nine career TOC bids, three qualifications to the TOC, and reaching deep elimination rounds at major national tournaments like UNLV, Princeton, and the TOC. Leon’s coaching philosophy centers on individualizing strengths and growth areas for each debater. At Potomac, he appreciates the diverse range of experiences and ages, providing a platform for students to become novice debaters or to hone their skills to the highest level. His personal interests include Ultimate Frisbee, working on startup business projects, and spending time with friends.

Coach Michael is currently pursuing a BS in Computer Science at Rice University, with an expected graduation date of 2027. He competed at Seven Lakes HS for four years, where he won significant accolades including qualifying to the TOC (gold) 3x, NSDA National Tournament 3x, TFA State Tournament 3x, a total of 14 career bids and NSDA Premier Distinction Award. He placed at major tournaments including Plano West, Grapevine, Bellaire, Blake, ultimately ranking 24th in the nation by the NDCA in 2021. After graduating, he has spent years coaching at Public Forum Boot Camp, Katy Speech & Debate Academy, The Debate Group, Seven Lakes HS, and Potomac Debate Academy, working with students across all age groups and experience levels. Michael’s areas of expertise include persuading parent judges, card cutting, and debating theory/kritiks. As a coach, his personal philosophy is to guide students in the right direction, rather than giving them the direct answer, believing that this helps students learn for themselves and develop a better understanding of the problem they are seeking to solve. Michael founded a non-profit organization to spread music to Assisted Living Centers across the greater Houston area as well as volunteers at the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center. Outside of debate, Michael enjoys playing sports, singing, and playing the piano.

Nicky holds a PhD in Philosophy and a Master of Arts in Sociology from UC San Diego and UC Berkeley. At UC Berkeley, Nicky taught UC Berkeley Masters and Undergraduate students for almost a decade including in Communications, Political Science, Global Studies, and History. Nicky graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Science in Education and Social Policy. Nicky was a Clinton Fellow, Udall Scholar, Humanity in Action Fellow, and Critical Language Scholar. At Northwestern, Nicky co-founded a debate and advocacy association and completed additional scholarly and advocacy work at the Paris Institute of Political Studies, Universidad Panamericana, Tongji University, and the University of Jordan. Nicky has 19 years of experience coaching and competing in Debate, with multiple state championships and late elimination rounds at the nation’s most prestigious tournaments, including Harvard, Valley, the NSDA/NFL National Championship, and the Grand National Tournament. Last year, Nicky taught debate for Saint Mary’s College, the advanced lab at the Stanford National Forensic Institute, James Logan High School (winning the top two awards at the 2022 National tournament), Athens Debate, the Athenian School and the Online Debate Institute. Nicky specializes in case construction, rebuttal speeches and rhetorical skills, adapting to a variety of judges (traditional/circuit/different regions), extemporaneous argumentation, unique kritiks, and building on intersectional perspectives that can expand the Forensics arena. Nicky has led and looks forward to continuing to lead countless students to use debate to become more engaged in the classroom and articulate, informed, and active leaders in their schools and wider communities.

Coach Rebecca is currently pursuing her undergraduate degree in History and Literature at Harvard College. Coach Rebecca brings years of coaching experience to Potomac Debate Academy, both in a classroom and camp setting. As a competitor, Rebecca’s achievements are notable. She Championed the 2021 Tournament of Champions in Public Forum and has championed or finaled at UK Season Opener, Sunvitational, Barkley Forum, Emory University, and more. In her senior year, she was ranked as first in the nation and received multiple speaker awards as well as a total six bids to the Tournament of Champions. Rebecca’s coaching philosophy centers on amplifying students’ passions and skills, encouraging a variety of debate styles without committing to one. She values the development and excitement of her students, finding joy in sharing her love for debate. Outside of coaching, Rebecca enjoys sports, music, running, and managing the Harvard men’s basketball and club teams.

A former student of Potomac Debate Academy, Coach Ruth has been involved with PDA for over 7 years. Coach Ruth is currently pursuing a dual degree in Business and Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. Competing for Thomas S. Wootton High School, Ruth qualified to the TOC twice, earning a total of 9 career bids while winning major accolades like 2nd speaker at TOC (Gold), semi-finals at Harvard, and the University of Pennsylvania. By the end of her senior year, Ruth was ranked 3rd in the nation. As a coach, Ruth specializes in case writing, back-half strategy, and developing round vision. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes openness to diverse opinions and personalized debate strategies and she enjoys seeing students recognize their progress and the fulfillment of their hard work. Beyond coaching, Ruth’s interests include cooking, exploring music, and engagement in equality movements and environmental activism.

Srikar is studying at Texas A&M University, planning to major in International Relations and Diplomacy. In high school, Srikar debated for A&M Consolidated for 4 years in Public Forum, Extemporaneous Speaking, and Policy debate, becoming a co-president of the team senior year. In his senior year, he was ranked as high as 2nd nationally with accomplishments such as placing 2nd at the Blue Key Round Robin, Quarterfinaling both the TFA State Tournament and the NDCA National Tournament, Championing the Winston Churchill Invitational, and obtaining 3 bids to the Gold Division of the Tournament of Champions. Additionally, Srikar has qualified for the NSDA national championship 3 times, and has worked diligently in his career to build a strong Public Forum program at his school by tripling its size. Outside of PF, Srikar placed 3rd at the UIL 5A Policy State tournament, and received numerous bids in extemporaneous speaking. Srikar has coached numerous teams around the nation to competitive success at the local and national level with many students reaching deep out rounds at circuit tournaments such as Harvard, perfect records and late outrounds at the TOC, and multiple qualifications to the NSDA National Championship. Srikar has been known for pushing the limits of PF with more technical policy-esque styles including various theory and “Kritical” arguments. Coming from a smaller school, Srikar worked diligently to teach himself how to debate in a unique way, and he’s excited to join y’all at Potomac!

Coach Tejas competed at Del Norte High School for four years, where he was President of the debate team, helped move the program from local competitions to the national circuit and developed two middle school debate programs. During his career, he accumulated 9 career bids to the Tournament of Champions, advancing to late outrounds at multiple national tournaments, such as semifinals at the Berkeley invitational and finals at the Villiger invitational. In addition, he reached elimination rounds at both Nationals and the California State Tournament. Further, he has coached at multiple debate camps and privately coached teams to 11 bids to the TOC in his senior year of high school. Tejas is currently pursuing a degree in Public Policy from the University of Chicago. He is incredibly excited to work with everyone at Potomac!

Coach Thomas competed at the Blake School in Minneapolis and is currently pursuing a degree from Rice University. Throughout his career, he broke at national tournaments including UK, Bronx, Glenbrooks, and Apple Valley. Thomas was successful at several national tournaments, including reaching quarterfinals at NDCA his junior year and championed the tournament his senior, placing 11th and 9th at NSDA his junior and senior year, respectively, and breaking to elimination rounds at the Tournament of Champions his junior year. Thomas won the Tournament of Champions his senior year. He also performed well at the state level, placing second his junior year and reaching quarterfinals his senior year. Outside of Potomac Debate, Thomas has coached at NDF Boston and the Intensive.

A former alum, Coach Vishnu competed for Walt Whitman HS for four years, joining debate in 7th grade with Potomac Debate Academy. As a competitor, Vishnu was ranked the #1 Public Forum debater in the nation, championing major tournaments including Yale University and Georgetown University. After graduating, Vishnu knew they wanted to return to Potomac Debate Academy as a coach to help further its mission of fostering students’ success, just as the program had done for them years before. Now, Vishnu is pursuing an Economics & Finance degree from Claremont McKenna. As a coach, Vishnu specializes in argument creation and refutation. They believe that debate should be fun, and they work to create an active classroom that allows each student’s voice to be heard. Vishnu is an active volunteer, participating in national climate strikes, working with students with autistic spectrum disorders, and fundraising for Urban Debate Leagues. Outside of debate, they enjoy golfing, lacrosse, and poker.

Coach William is pursuing a dual degree student in Economics at Wharton and Computer Science at the University of Pennsylvania. With two years of coaching experience, William specializes in judge adaptation, comparative analysis, and round vision. During his four years of Public Forum Debate at Brentwood High School, William was ranked 1st in the nation, championing multiple prestigious tournaments including the Tournament of Champions (Gold) and placing top 5 at NSDA Nationals. As a coach, his students have reached elimination rounds at major tournaments like Yale and Harvard, received invites to multiple round robins, qualified for the TOC, and ranked top 5 in the nation. William’s coaching philosophy is to develop personalized drills and lessons tailored to each student’s debate level, emphasizing practice rounds and drills for tournament preparation. His favorite aspect of coaching is fostering close relationships with students, finding it rewarding to see them succeed. Outside of coaching, William enjoys hiking, dining with friends, cooking, and advocating for computer science education.