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.

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 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.

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 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 Sasha competed for four years Princeton High School, earning a total of nine career bids. As a competitor, they won awards at many prestigious tournaments including semifinals at the NJ State Championship and Columbia University, octofinals at University of Pennsylvania, quarterfinals at Sunvite and Cypress, championing Pennsbury Falcon twice, double octofinals at Harvard and Yale, as well as 6th speaker at the Tournament of Champions (Gold). Sasha has coached for years, including at NSD, VBI, NOVA Debate, and more. Sasha views debate as a tool for mastering strategic thinking and communication. Their coaching philosophy focuses on teaching students skills that not only help them excel in debate but also equip them to tackle academic and real-world challenges with confidence. Sasha is currently studying mathematics at Harvard University. Outside of debate, Sasha enjoys solving sudoku puzzles, playing the guitar, and reading nonfiction. They are also deeply passionate about addressing educational inequality, having created STEM programs that have positively impacted over 300 students in their community.

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!

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 Tiffany has been teaching Speech and Debate for over a decade, specializing in Public Forum, Speech, and Congressional Debate. She competed in speech events at Cabot High School and participated in IPDA debate during her four years at the University of Arkansas Monticello, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication and Political Science in 2012. Tiffany also holds a Master of Education in Secondary Education from the University of Arkansas Little Rock, completed in 2014. As a coach, Tiffany has worked with students for nine years across several institutions, including Cabot School District, Monticello High School, and Bentonville Freshman Academy. Her coaching achievements are numerous, including being named 2023 Arkansas Communication and Theatre Arts Association Teacher of the Year, earning the 2023 NFHS Outstanding Performing Arts Educator Award for Arkansas, and receiving the 2021 Outstanding Speech Coach Little Rock Central HS Tournament. Her students have won many awards, including make it to the final round as well as championing at NSDA and TOC nationals. Tiffany’s coaching philosophy is centered on empowering students to set and achieve their personal goals. She is passionate about helping students grow their confidence and become the best versions of themselves. Outside of coaching, Tiffany enjoys hiking, antique shopping, and spending time with her children. She is thrilled to be part of Potomac Debate Academy, where students can hone their craft in an individual way and at a young age.

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 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!

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 David competed at Campbell Hall High School for four years and is now pursuing a BA in Political Science from UC Berkeley. As a competitor, they were the 2020 NSDA Nationals runner up and 2019 California State Championship runner up, qualified to Gold TOC two times and made it to elimination rounds both years (2020 and 2021). David has coached ES, MS, and HS students across the world in World Schools Debate, Public Debate, and Public Forum Debate. David’s coaching philosophy emphasizes the importance of critical thinking over mere debate techniques. They believe that the core value of debate lies in fostering a deep understanding of the world and developing the ability to think critically. Outside of coaching, David enjoys rock climbing, bouldering, backpacking, and going to the movies.

Coach Elly competed at Marist School for three years where they accumulated seven career bids to the TOC, with a highest national ranking of 12th. As a competitor, they reached deep elimination rounds at Sunvitational, Blake, Blue Key, Barkley Forum, Nova Titan, Durham, and more. Since graduating, Elly has coached at VBI and PFA. Elly’s coaching philosophy revolves around ensuring students extract maximum value from their debate experience, focusing on skill development, enjoyment, and personal growth. She particularly enjoys witnessing students thrive and feel rewarded for their efforts. Elly is currently pursuing a major in economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, set to graduate in 2027. Beyond debate, she enjoys running, exploring new foods, traveling, and attending concerts. She is also actively involved in nonprofit work as the Head of MIT Code for Good, where she leads efforts to complete technical projects for nonprofits and addresses educational inequities through mentorship programs.

Coach Henry is currently pursuing a degree in Political Science, Economics, and Philosophy at the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to this, he competed at J.R. Masterman for four years where he coached his team to become a nationally competitive program with multiple TOC qualifying teams. As a competitor, he was the 2024 TOC Gold Bid leader, reaching deep elims at major tournaments including the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, Bronx Science, and more. After graduating, he coached at summer camp programs including NSD and VBI. Henry’s coaching philosophy centers on the idea that the variety of judging styles and as a result debating styles is what makes Public Forum fun and unique. He believes that it is not enough to be the best tech debater or the best lay debater, the most accomplished have the ability to adapt and debate well regardless of the judge. Henry looks to give his students the ability to figure out how to best approach each situation and round they will have. Outside of debate, Henry enjoys music, biking around Pittsburgh, and watching the Philadelphia Sports!

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 Kevin is currently pursuing a bachelors in Computer Science at the University of Pennsylvania. A former Potomac Debate student, he previously competed in both middle and high school debate, totaling 6 years of competitive experience. He has taught at a wide variety of programs, including Kids for Code, SEEDs, Rockville Science Center, and Bethesda Country Club. Kevin’s coaching philosophy centers on growth-focused approach to coaching, which emphasizes regular feedback to evaluate skill progression, a long-term perspective that doesn’t focus on winning right now, and a holistic development that gives skills beyond just debate. Outside of debate, Kevin enjoys K-Pop and Hip-Hop music, rock climbing, and bodybuilding.

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 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 Lucas is a former Potomac Debate student, having competed for four years at Richard Montgomery High School. As a competitor, he advanced to late elimination rounds at major national tournaments including Marist Ivy, George Mason, Lakeland, Cal State Fullerton, Georgetown, and more, resulting in top speaker awards and earning a bid to the TOC. As a coach, he specializes in lay appeal, weighing, and back-half strategy and his personal philosophy centers around the idea that there is a lot to be learned from every loss, and analyzing lost rounds and doing practice rounds are crucial for growth. Lucas is currently pursuing a B.S. in Computer Science at Georgia Tech. Outside of debate, he enjoys outdoor recreation, programming apps, and reading. He’s also passionate about community service, having taught coding to K-12 students through KidCoders 365 and led afterschool science labs with KAST (Kids Are Scientists Too).

Coach Mahek is currently pursuing a double major degree in Finance and Information Systems at Indiana University. Prior to coaching, she competed for four years at Palatine High School, where she served as captain for two years. As a competitor, Mahek was a PF Octafinalist at the Illinois High School State Association tournament, qualified to the NSDA National Tournament, and a finalist at the Illinois Debate Community State Championship. Her favorite part of coaching is seeing kids grow into themselves throughout debate, as it is more than just arguing, but an art of persuasion. Outside of coaching, Mahek enjoys playing board games like Monopoly, dabbling in photography, and golfing. She also hosts her own podcast and is an avid Star Wars fan—her Labrador is even named Obi-Wan! Mahek volunteers with Morgan’s Message and packs food for underprivileged communities in her community.

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.

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.

Coach Sachin competed for Durham Academy for four years where they were ranked #1 in the state in all events and by the NSDA in Lincoln Douglas debate. They reached elimination rounds at major tournaments including Yale University, Bronx, and Isidore Newman. Sachin has coached for several years, including being a mentor for their school team, leading coaching sessions at PepTalk and teaching at Break Debate. Their students have won the MS Tournament of Champions twice, championing NSDA MS Nationals, earning Round Robin invites, and qualifying to/reaching elimination at the Tournament of Champions. Sachin’s favorite part of coaching is helping students develop new arguments and to look at different issues from perspectives beyond what they originally expected. Whether this is by encouraging them to cut a new advantage, showing them a cool critical or philosophical defense of the topic, or even teaching them how to defeat a silly theoretical argument, they love allowing students to innovate and learn new things! Sachin is currently pursuing a degree in Philosophy at Emory University. Outside of debate, they enjoy singing, watching action movies on Netflix, shopping, and hanging out with friends!

Coach Sadie is currently pursuing a degree in economics from the University of Michigan. Prior to that, she competed for The Chapin School for four years where she consistently ranked no. 1 in New York and as high as 8th in the nation. She was the first team from her school to qualify to the Tournament of Champions, the National Speech and Debate Tournament, and the National Catholic Forensics League. Since graduating, she coached at NSD, VBI, and volunteered at New York City-based non-profits. As a coach, Sadie focuses on the power of logical analysis, research, and judge adaptation, teaching students the fundamentals of all debate styles to enhance their argumentation skills and real-world abilities. Outside of debate, she enjoys following the Yankees, traveling, baking, and spending time with friends.

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.

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!