USN debaters claimed another championship at their first in-person tournament of the year at the Peach State Classic in Carrollton, Georgia. Congratulations to third-place speaker Madeline Shinohara ‘28, sixth-place speaker Eesha Nachnani ’28, and solo Varsity debater Charles Cook '27.
By Bill Wilson, HS Debate Coach
Eesha Nachnani ’28 and Madeline Shinohara ‘28 started the weekend strong, with preliminary wins over Johns Creek High School in Georgia, Alpharetta High School in Georgia, The Harpeth Hall School, and Montgomery Bell Academy. Their only prelim loss was to MBA. The girls then qualified for the quarterfinal bracket, where they got a rematch with the MBA duo who bested them in prelims. The girls won a decisive 3-0 victory over the MBA boys and finished the tournament as co-champions alongside pairings from Woodward Academy in Georgia, Alpharetta High School, and Northview High School in Georgia. Additionally, Madeline was recognized as the third-place speaker in the division, while Eesha claimed the sixth-place speaker award.
Varsity debater Charles Cook '27 persevered through a late drop by his partner and bravely ventured solo into a stacked varsity pool that included the second-ranked pairing in the nation from Northview High School in Georgia. Charles bested the C team from Northview and finished with a 1-3 record in prelims that were cut short by a server crash that froze the website used to tabulate the tournament.
The debaters will finish the semester with an online tournament hosted by Michigan State and Okemos High School in Michigan. Thanks for all of your support of these students.
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.
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.
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.