By: Bobby Lebeda, CSDS Head Coach

Lincoln-Douglas debate competitions pit one debater against another, and in the recent Loyola High School Invitational, Chaminade Speech and Debate Society (CSDS) sent two students to compete. While both juniors are primarily Varsity Policy Debate team competitors, Ronak Ahuja made it to the final round, and finished second; while Joey Thornhill was an octo-finalist.

Ahuja’s finish secured him a new national ranking of #14, and earned him a bid to compete at the National Tournament of Champions. He needs one more bid in order to compete nationally.

Premier Debate, a national institute specializing in Lincoln-Douglas Debate said of Ahuja, “But the true Loyola underdog that has everyone talking is Ronak Ahuja (#14 Nationwide)-Chaminade. On his path to the finals, Ronak defeated Emma Blum (#39)-Brentwood, Vishan Chaudhary (#32)-Harvard-Westlake, Rex Evans(#29)-Santa Monica, Alexandra Mork (#19)-Harvard-Westlake, Spencer Paul (#13)-Harvard-Westlake, and a quarterfinals revenge round victory against his only prelim loss Jake Davidson (#17)-Harvard-Westlake. Starting the weekend unranked, Ronak’s new national #14 ranking is well-deserved.”