Debaters have strong showing in Georgia

Noah ’23 and Henry ’23 claimed a co-championship in the novice division while Oscar ’21, Mayowa ’21, Phillip ’23, and Jessica ’23 placed in the top ranks as speakers.
By Bill Wilson, HS Debate Coach
 
USN had its best team performance ever at the Chattahoochee Cougar Classic in Atlanta last weekend.

In the varsity division, three USN teams reached elimination rounds, more than any other school in the competition. Oscar Fox ’21 and Mayowa Kassim ’21 finished preliminary rounds with a 5-1 record, and earned the fourth seed in the round of 16, where they did not debate because they met the 13th seed of Christopher Cheek ’21 and Luke Kim ’23, who finished 4-2 in prelims. Oscar and Mayowa lost a 2-1 decision in the quarterfinals Sunday morning to Alpharetta High School of Georgia. Wiley Barzelay ’21 and Lucas Heckers ’21 also finished 4-2, good for the 11th seed in the bracket where they lost to Alpharetta in the round of 16. Mayowa was the fourth overall speaker in varsity, and Oscar was the 12th place speaker.

In the novice division, Noah Kim ’23 and Henry Stack ’23 claimed a co-championship after finishing 4-1 in prelims and winning unanimous decisions over Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet in the round of 16 and The Galloway School of Georgia in the quarterfinal round. The teams of Ayodeji Ajayi ’23 and Sarah Kate Esquivel ’23, and Phillip Feaster ’23 and Jessica Mullenbach ’23 also finished with 4-1 records before falling in the round of 16 to Atlanta schools Woodward Academy and Pace Academy. Noah was the top speaker out of 98 competitors, while Phillip and Jessica earned the 4th and 6th place speaker awards.
Back

More USN News

List of 3 news stories.

  • Summer renovations include new carpet and furniture in the Hassenfeld Library.

    Operations staff makes summer upgrades

    Over the summer, the Operations staff worked to prepare the Edgehill Campus for the year ahead, beginning with the Back Lawn renovation, installing new carpet in classrooms and the Hassenfeld Library, replacing furniture, painting, updating lighting, improving HVAC systems, updating the Sperling Gym concession area, and replacing a part of the floor in Cheek Gym.
    Read More
  • Construction progress as of August 7, 2026.

    Back Lawn transforms with turf field, track

    Expect to see an active construction site as students, families, and faculty return to the Edgehill Campus. Progress continues on USN's most anticipated campus improvement of summer 2026.
    Read More
  • In June 2026, a group of USN students spent two weeks in Mendoza, Argentina through a program organized by Sister Cities Nashville.

    Curricular travel opportunities return for the 2026-2027 school year

    University School of Nashville is excited to announce the return of curricular travel opportunities. Student applications for the 2026-2026 school year will open Friday, August 21, 2026. Additional details, including, financial aid processes, and application timelines, will be shared with families soon.
    Please contact K-12 Director of Experiential Learning Kalee Barbis with any questions, kbarbis@usn.org.
    Read More
Archive

Contact

Edgehill Campus
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212

Phone:  615-321-8000
Fax:       615-321-0889 
Email:    info@usn.org

River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218

Resources

USN Mission: 
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.