Tarheel Forensic League State Championship
2026 — Chapel Hill, NC/US
Main
Thank you for attending the 2026 State Championship. On behalf of the TFL Executive Committee, we are honored that you chose to participate this year and hope that your entire delegation enjoyed themselves.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tournament Booklet
You can access the 2026 Tournament Booklet here
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please help us in congratulation your 2026 State Champions:
In Novice Congressional Debate,Lexi Cai from Cary Academy
In Congressional Debate, Griffin Hire from Massey Hill Classical HS
In Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Audrey Zhang from Cary Academy
In Lincoln-Douglas Debate sponsored by the Harvard Debate Council, Riley Powell and Teagan Bolt from Cary Academy
In Novice Public Forum Debate, Aidan Barsoba, Beck Rudolph, Ian Lee & Harrison Nanzer from Durham Academy
In Public Forum Debate sponsored by the Institute for Speech & Debate, Ronan Hechama & Reiner Bass from Durham Academy
In Novice Declamation,Chloe Dudkiewicz from Pinecrest HS
In Declamation,Clare Liu from Durham Academy
In Novice Dramatic Interpretation, Emma Griggs from Charlotte Latin School
In Dramatic Interpretation, Tessa Fulcher from Myers Park HS
In Duo Interpretation, Zhu & Guior from Research Triangle HS
In Extemporaneous Speaking, Anna Benjamin from Cary Academy
In Humorous Interpretation, Simone Valkov from Cuthbertson HS
In Novice Impromptu Speaking,Leah Nazemzadeh from Charlotte Latin School
In Impromptu Speaking,Shriya Dharmapurikar from Durham Academy
In Informative Speaking, Eugene Si from Cary Academy
In Novice Original Oratory,Nandini Siripurapu from Ardrey Kell HS
In Original Oratory,Yul Choi from Cary Academy
In Program Oral Interpretation, Sita Sagunarthy from Charlotte Latin School
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sweepstakes
Congratulations to winners of the Steven Davis Award of Excellence in Debate:
- In Third Place, Myers Park HS
- In Second Place, Durham Academy
- In First Place,Cary Academy
Congratulations to winners of the Kurt Earnest Award of Excellence in Speech:
- In Third Place, Charlotte Latin School
- In Second Place, Cary Academy
- In First Place, Durham Academy
Congratulations to the winners of the Randal Shaver Small School Sweepstakes:
- In Third Place, Research Triangle HS
- In Second Place, Pinecrest HS
- In First Place, Asheville HS
Congratulations to the winners of the Governor's Cup:
- In Fifth Place, Ardrey Kell HS
- In Fourth Place, Myers Park HS
- In Third Place,Charlotte Latin School
- In Second Place, Cary Academy
- In First Place, Durham Academy
Click here to view calculations for the 2026 Sweepstakes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Awards of Recognition
Congratulations to the following winners:
- 2026 TFL Administrative Excellence Award: Dr. Michael Erhardt, Cary Academy
- 2026 TFL Assistant Coach of the Year Award: Rachel Mauchline, Durham Academy
- 2026 Mildred Hussey Coach of the Year Award: Lynne Coyne, Myers Park HS
- 2026 John Woolen/ Tarheel Forensic League Student of the Year: Simone Valkov, Cuthbertson HS
- 2026 Jackie Foote Award of Excellence in Congressional Debate: Griffin Hire from Massey Hill Classical HS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equity Concerns
The Tarheel Forensic League (TFL) is committed to providing participants, judges, coaches, and volunteers the opportunity to pursue excellence in their endeavors. This opportunity can exist only when each member of our community is assured an atmosphere of mutual respect.
The TFL prohibits all forms of harassment and discrimination. Accordingly, all forms of harassment and discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, citizenship, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by any applicable federal, state, or local law are prohibited, whether committed by participants, judges, coaches, volunteers, and/or observers.
The TFL reserves all rights to subject violators to the full range of sanctions, up to and including removal from the tournament premises and referral to appropriate authorities. Any individual, or group of individuals, who believes they have been a victim of harassment and/or discrimination should report it to the Tournament Director or appropriate authority immediately.
Information about Implicit Bias in Speech & Debate
You can file an Equity Concern with our Equity Team by clicking here.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Protests Concerning Rules & Procedures
Please note these important resources:
Current TFL Constitution
Current TFL State Tournament Manual
Current TFL State Tournament Qualification Procedures
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLEASE NOTE OUR IMPORTANT SUPERVISION RULE: At minimum, the Head Coach of Record must be present with his or her school for the entire duration of the tournament. If anyone other than the official head coach will be supervising the team, the school must present the TFL Executive Committee a letter to that effect signed by both the head coach and school principal. If any team is found at any time without the coach of record or officially approved adult chaperone on campus during tournament hours, the entire school will be disqualified from the tournament and a letter will be written to the school principal. All teams must be supervised at all times while they are on the host campus.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sincerely,
Crawford Leavoy (Durham Academy) - Chair
Keith Pittman (Asheville HS) - Vice Chair & Bidkeeper
Ben Denton (Pinecrest HS) - Teasurer
Angela Segarra (Cuthbertson HS) - Secretary
Michael Bischoff (North Mecklenburg HS)
Megan Butt (Charlotte Latin)
Lynne Coyne (Myers Park HS)
RJ Pellicciotta (Cary Academy) - Bidkeeper
Brian Thompson (Terry Sanford HS)
Thomas Surber (Mountain Heritage HS) - Alternate Member