Marlborough Debate’s Historic Success

In a stunning display of intellectual prowess, hard work, and resilience, Marlborough Debate dominated at the National Debate Coaches Association (NDCA) Championships, bringing home the prestigious national championship title along with multiple additional individual honors. 

Junior Abby M. made Marlborough Debate history by claiming the NDCA National Championship, a feat not accomplished by a Marlborough debater since the 1980s. In an extraordinary comeback story, Abby dominated her second day of debates after losing her first two rounds against formidable opponents. Abby demonstrated remarkable determination by winning every subsequent debate—a triumph known in the debate world as a “submarine” because she first took a dive before a successful rise. Her journey to the championship required defeating two opponents who had consistently challenged her throughout the season, including a decisive victory in the quarterfinals that Debate Program Head Adam Torson described as “her best affirmative rebuttal” of the year.

In the championship round, Abby faced the nation’s top-ranked debater—the only student in the country to earn more Tournament of Champions bids than her this season. Drawing the more challenging affirmative position, she made a strategic decision to rely on her meticulously researched case advocating for the US to participate in the International Criminal Court. Unlike conventional debate approaches that often emphasize catastrophic scenarios, Abby had spent months developing an argument focused on meaningful structural impacts.

This approach reflected her season-long commitment to grounding debate in real-world consequences for disadvantaged populations rather than treating it as merely “an argument chess match,” as Mr. Torson describes it. Despite some questioning of this strategic choice in the prep room, Abby stood by the case she had researched extensively and refined through feedback from coaches and judges throughout the season.

The final debate centered on a crucial question: would joining the ICC mean that bad leaders would be afraid to give up power, or would it deter them from committing war crimes in the first place? With complete command of and confidence in her research, Abby closed her laptop before her final rebuttal, delivering what the judges would later call an “exceptional” and “remarkably good” speech. After reviewing the evidence and arguments, the judges praised the strength of Abby’s research and the clarity and moral weight of her structural argument. “The decision is a 2-1 for the Affirmative from Marlborough,” the judges announced. Abby M. ’26 was crowned the NDCA National Champion.

The team’s success extended far beyond Abby’s accomplishment. Lucia S.G. ’27 achieved an undefeated preliminary record and advanced to the quarterfinals, ultimately earning the 15th Place Speaker Award. Penelope P. ’25 reached the quarterfinals and secured the impressive 2nd Place Speaker Award. Olivia O. ’26 maintained an undefeated preliminary record, advanced to Octofinals, and earned the 4th Place Speaker Award. Sophia M. ’27 rounded out the team’s accomplishments by advancing to Octofinals.

“Every team member made a meaningful contribution to the championship,” Mr. Torson noted. “Most importantly, they did so while holding themselves to the highest standards of intellectual integrity, argumentative rigor, and kindness.”

This historic performance was supported by coaches Chris Theis, Clare Bradley, Hope Lee ’24, and Program Head Adam Torson. This victory at one of the season’s two major culminating championships cements Marlborough’s reputation as a national debate powerhouse. Five debaters advanced to elimination rounds, two earned top-five speaker awards, and one brought home the National Championships—a true testament to the program’s depth of talent and commitment to excellence.