First year debaters win championship at Marist
Congratulations to ninth grade debaters Collin Chan, Ophelia Cherry-Pulay, Caroline Keiper, Rhea Nachnani, Zinnia Nichols Loller, Ellie Rothman, Lexi Straus, and Siddhi Voona for an outstanding start to their high school debate careers.
By Bill Wilson, HS Debate Coach
USN's first year debaters started their season this weekend virtually and rocked the Marist Ivy Street Invitational. All four teams in competition reached the elimination round Saturday night, Sep. 25. Three USN teams claimed a co-championship in the division.
Ophelia Cherry-Pulay '25 and Ellie Rothman '25 finished preliminary competition with a 4-1 record, good for the second seed in the bracket. They won their elimination round in a 3-0 decision over Alpharetta HS (Georgia). Ophelia and Ellie earned the first and second place speaker awards in the division.
Lexi Straus '25 and Rhea Nachnani '25 finished with a 3-2 record, good for the eighth seed where they met the ninth seeded USN team of Collin Chan '25 and Caroline Keiper '25 (3-2). Lexi, Collin, and Rhea claimed the fourth, seventh and ninth place speaker awards in the division, respectively, while closing out one slice of the bracket. Zinnia Nichols Loller '25 and Siddhi Voona '25 finished 3-2, also. As the 13th seed they lost their elimination round to Montgomery Bell Academy.
What a fine start to these debate careers — looking forward to watching what this group can accomplish together.
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USN's first year debaters started their season this weekend virtually and rocked the Marist Ivy Street Invitational. All four teams in competition reached the elimination round Saturday night, Sep. 25. Three USN teams claimed a co-championship in the division.
Ophelia Cherry-Pulay '25 and Ellie Rothman '25 finished preliminary competition with a 4-1 record, good for the second seed in the bracket. They won their elimination round in a 3-0 decision over Alpharetta HS (Georgia). Ophelia and Ellie earned the first and second place speaker awards in the division.
Lexi Straus '25 and Rhea Nachnani '25 finished with a 3-2 record, good for the eighth seed where they met the ninth seeded USN team of Collin Chan '25 and Caroline Keiper '25 (3-2). Lexi, Collin, and Rhea claimed the fourth, seventh and ninth place speaker awards in the division, respectively, while closing out one slice of the bracket. Zinnia Nichols Loller '25 and Siddhi Voona '25 finished 3-2, also. As the 13th seed they lost their elimination round to Montgomery Bell Academy.
What a fine start to these debate careers — looking forward to watching what this group can accomplish together.
More USN News
List of 3 news stories.
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Experienced educators join High School
Allison Van Konynenburg returns to USN as Interim HS Dean of Teaching and Learning. Taking on additional responsibilities this academic year, Justin Fitzpatrick is now Interim HS Dean for Academic Affairs and Laura Snow is the High School Academic Operations Manager.Read More -
Lower School welcomes new faculty for 2026-2027
Please join us in welcoming to USN: LS Spanish Teacher Connor Mitchell, LS Music Teacher Marisa Frank, LS Learning Support Specialist MacKenzie Grant, Fourth Grade Teacher Alexis Novotny, Second Grade Teachers Cara Bishop and Lindsay Moates, First Grade Teachers Marisa Depke and Molly Roth '10, and Kindergarten Teacher Ellen Haber '00. Also, Naturalist Carrie Riley transitions to LS from the HS Science Department.Read More -
Middle School welcomes learning specialist
Learning Specialist Rachel Harley has over a decade in middle school education. Her office is located in room 1171 on the first floor of the Gordon Wing, in the former Middle School conference room.Read More
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
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
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.
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.