King Claims State Championship at Connecticut Debate Association Finals

The King Debate Team capped off a historic season with a standout performance at the Connecticut Debate Association (CDA) State Finals, with seniors Steven Blanco of Stamford and Ryan Jakubowski of Greenwich securing the Connecticut State Parliamentary Debate Championship.

The win wraps up an exceptional season that included multiple tournament victories leading up to the finals, marking a significant achievement for the program and propelling the duo to the prestigious National Parliamentary Debate League Tournament of Champions in San Diego this April.

“The final round was definitely one of the hardest-fought debates I've ever been part of, as our opponents were extremely strong and ultimately made a lot of arguments that we weren't initially expecting,” said Jakubowski. “We won the state championship on a split decision among the panel of judges, which reflected how competitive the final was.”

The CDA is the state’s premier high school debate league and has provided students with a structured and competitive debate experience for more than three decades. Through monthly tournaments, a fall scrimmage, and an invitational State Championship, the CDA emphasizes the development of critical thinking, public speaking, and analytical skills.

The association’s parliamentary format challenges students to prepare arguments within a limited timeframe and debate both sides of complex issues, fostering adaptability and intellectual rigor. With participation from dozens of schools and hundreds of students each season, the CDA serves as a cornerstone of debate education in Connecticut.

King’s success at the event extended beyond the championship pairing, with Ty Srihari of Westport and Derek Shah of Greenwich earning an impressive fourth-place finish in the state. The tournament, which features only top qualifying teams from across Connecticut, challenged competitors to debate complex global issues while adapting strategies round by round.

“Coming in 4th place in the entire state is, of course, a huge accomplishment, and I felt very grateful,” said Shah. “It was rewarding to see all of the effort and hard work and sacrifice I have put into debate pay off.”

Debate team coach John Harrison, who teaches history and social sciences in the King Upper School, attributed the team’s supportive culture and dedication to its success, and commended the students’ parents for their support.

The competition also marked the culmination of the high school debate careers of several seniors who have played a pivotal role in the program’s growth, including Darien’s Amy Powell and Stamford’s Leon Wang, Cyrus Noren, and Joaquin-Antonio Arteta.

“I have watched many of the team’s seniors grow and mature as debaters and wonderfully thoughtful people over the last four years,” said Harrison. “It has been one of the true joys of my educational career, and I am honored to have served as their coach and number one cheerleader.”