M-A Debate Team Sweeps National Championships

Five M-A duos dominate the National Parliamentary Debate League tournament, with two pairs sharing the championship title.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 10:28pm

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A vibrant, silkscreen-style illustration featuring a debate trophy or gavel icon repeated in a grid pattern, rendered in bold, neon-like colors and heavy black outlines to capture the energy and accomplishment of the M-A debate team's national championship win.M-A High School's debate team celebrates their historic co-championship victory at the national tournament.Stamford Today

The Menlo-Atherton (M-A) High School debate team sent five pairings to the National Parliamentary Debate League Tournament of Champions in San Diego, with all five teams advancing to the elimination rounds. In the finals, two M-A duos - senior Gustav Singel and junior Thomas Greenleaf, and senior Shawnak Shivakumar and junior Vesta Kassayan - faced off and ultimately decided to share the championship title, making M-A the only school to ever co-champion the tournament.

Why it matters

The M-A debate team's historic performance at the national championships showcases the school's strong debate program and the success of its student-athletes. Parliamentary debate requires quick thinking and strong communication skills, and M-A's dominance at the highest level of competition highlights the dedication and talent of these young debaters.

The details

The tournament featured 66 of the nation's top debate teams competing in a parliamentary format, where pairs have 20 minutes to prepare arguments for or against a given resolution. M-A's five teams all advanced to the elimination rounds, with Shivakumar and Kassayan earning the top seed after a 12-2 preliminary record. In the semifinals, Singel and Greenleaf defeated their opponents to reach the finals, where they faced off against their fellow M-A teammates Shivakumar and Kassayan. The two pairs then decided to share the championship title, making M-A the only school to ever co-champion the tournament.

  • The National Parliamentary Debate League Tournament of Champions took place last weekend in San Diego.
  • M-A's debate team has now co-championed the tournament twice, previously doing so in 2021.

The players

Gustav Singel

A senior on the M-A debate team who co-championed the national tournament.

Thomas Greenleaf

A junior on the M-A debate team who co-championed the national tournament.

Shawnak Shivakumar

A senior on the M-A debate team who co-championed the national tournament.

Vesta Kassayan

A junior on the M-A debate team who co-championed the national tournament.

Menlo-Atherton High School

The high school that the championship-winning debate team represents.

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What they’re saying

“I did a lot of practice rounds with the other advanced debaters on the team.”

— Gustav Singel, Senior

“This is one of the final tournaments of our senior year, let's just make the most of it and have as much fun as possible.”

— Daniel Matloub, Senior

“I wanted to get far, but I didn't expect to win.”

— Thomas Greenleaf, Junior

“The future of M-A debate is looking bright, and anyone who's interested should join.”

— Daniel Matloub, Senior

What’s next

The M-A debate team will look to continue their success at future national tournaments, as they aim to become the first school to three-peat as co-champions of the National Parliamentary Debate League Tournament of Champions.

The takeaway

M-A High School's dominant performance at the national debate championships showcases the strength of their program and the exceptional talent of their student-debaters. The team's willingness to share the top prize demonstrates their camaraderie and commitment to the sport, setting a positive example for young debaters across the country.