LR Central Debate Team Wins Harvard Tournament, Makes State History

Two juniors from Little Rock Central High School become the first team from Arkansas to win the prestigious Harvard University National Speech and Debate Tournament.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Two juniors from Little Rock Central High School, Jack Liu and Shangyu Wu, have made Arkansas history by becoming the first team from the state to win the Harvard University National Speech and Debate Tournament. The duo went undefeated in seven preliminary debates and advanced all the way to the finals, where they defeated the Newark Science team from New Jersey to be named the 2026 Harvard Policy Champions.

Why it matters

Winning the prestigious Harvard debate tournament is a remarkable achievement for any high school team, let alone the first team from Arkansas to do so. This victory puts Little Rock Central High School and the state of Arkansas on the national debate map, showcasing the talent and hard work of these young debaters.

The details

Jack Liu and Shangyu Wu, both juniors at Little Rock Central High School, traveled to Harvard University in February to compete in the national speech and debate tournament. Going into the tournament, they were ranked second in the nation. The pair went undefeated in seven preliminary debates and then advanced all the way through to the final four, where they secured a spot in the finals. In the championship round, they faced off against the Newark Science team from New Jersey and won the debate in a 2-1 decision, earning the title of 2026 Harvard Policy Champions.

  • The Harvard University National Speech and Debate Tournament took place in February 2026.
  • The Tournament of Champions, where Liu and Wu will compete, is slated to happen from April 11 through 13, 2026 in Kentucky.

The players

Jack Liu

A junior at Little Rock Central High School and one half of the debate team that won the 2026 Harvard University National Speech and Debate Tournament.

Shangyu Wu

A junior at Little Rock Central High School and one half of the debate team that won the 2026 Harvard University National Speech and Debate Tournament.

Little Rock Central High School

The high school that the winning debate team, Jack Liu and Shangyu Wu, attend.

Newark Science

The debate team from New Jersey that Little Rock Central High School's team defeated in the finals of the Harvard University National Speech and Debate Tournament.

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What’s next

Liu and Wu will now head to the Tournament of Champions, which is slated to happen from April 11 through 13, 2026 in Kentucky, where they will compete against the best debate teams in the country.

The takeaway

This historic victory for the Little Rock Central High School debate team not only puts Arkansas on the national debate map, but also showcases the immense talent and hard work of these young debaters. Their success at the prestigious Harvard tournament is a testament to their dedication and the quality of the debate program at their school.