Somerset Students Lead Garden State Debate League Tournament with Top Win Rate in New Jersey

SOMERSET, NJ — Students from Cedar Hill Preparatory School in Somerset came out on top at the Garden State Debate League March Tournament, posting the highest win rate among all participating schools. The team secured 22 wins out of 33 rounds — a 67% win rate — competing against 140 students from schools across New Jersey.

The tournament was held at Cedar Hill Prep and featured three rounds of debate on some of today's most pressing topics: the prohibition of opioid medications, cell phone bans during the school day, and whether student ratings should factor into teacher evaluations. Judges noted the students' poise, depth of argument, and ability to think on their feet.

Somerset School Claims Three of the Top Six Team Spots

Cedar Hill Prep teams placed in three of the tournament's top six rankings:

• 1st Place — CHP DKS: Samarth Dakhera, Nehemiah Kim, Yajur Subramanian
• 3rd Place — CHP DGT: Sahasra Genupur, Lily Trotta, Samaira Doshi
• 4th Place — CHP DMN: Agasthya Mabbu, Aiden Nguyen, Shivad Desai
• 6th Place — CHP BCP: Pragnya Banigalapati, Kasey Conor, Aaliyah Patel

Individual Speakers Recognized

Three CHP students ranked among the tournament's top individual speakers:

1. Shaun Gupta — William Annin Middle School
2. Zara Russell — RSA
3. David Ryu — Wilberforce
4. Branden Wang — William Annin Middle School
5. Shivad Desai — Cedar Hill Prep
6. Lily Trotta — Cedar Hill Prep
7. Amannda Yarima — Wilberforce
8. Nehemiah Kim and Samarth Dakhera — Cedar Hill Prep

About Cedar Hill Preparatory School

Cedar Hill Preparatory School is a PreK–8 International Baccalaureate Candidate private school in Somerset, New Jersey, dedicated to developing principled, knowledgeable, and caring students prepared to excel academically and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

Visiting Cedar Hill Prep — Open House on April 18

Curious about what sets CHP apart? From competitive debate to real-world public speaking, Cedar Hill Prep students build the communication skills and critical thinking that carry them far beyond the classroom. Join us for our Open House on Saturday, April 18, 2026 — meet our faculty, tour the campus, and see firsthand what makes CHP a place where students thrive.