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235 Hope Road, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724  /  732.542.4777

Speech and Debate Captures Big Wins

Ranney Upper School finished out its Speech and Debate regular season with some big wins at Ridge High School on Saturday, January 28. Competing among over fifty schools, some from as far as Arkansas, Ranney sent its largest roster of Speech and Debate competitors yet with over twenty students competing in fourteen different categories under direction of coaches Leslie Patient (Speech) and Peter Reynolds-Wright (Debate).
This past tournament saw some new faces on the roster with first time tournament attendees Ming "Miller" Lang ‘26 (competing in Original Oratory) and Kirin Patient ’23 (competing in Improvisational Acting), and Leo Shaffer ‘24 (Radio Speaking) all earning at least a top three in one of their rooms. Shaffer competed along with Justin Atnes ‘24 and Lindsay Berliner ‘24 in the unique category "Radio Speaking" for which Shaffer earned sixth overall and Lindsay Berliner who bested her showing last year with a big First Place win this year. Anna Weiner ‘23 continued her streak making it to final rounds with her Original Oratory piece, this time earning second place overall, but added another trophy, along with partner, Michael Guiliano ‘23, earning fourth place for Impromptu Children's Duo, for which the pair had fifteen minutes to read and rehearse, a selected piece of Children's Literature.
All three Public Forum debate teams (Max Kelner ‘25/Lucas Yanney ‘25, Jared Gizersky ‘24/Connoly Chavez ‘25, and Claire O'Leary ‘25/Khushi Patel ‘25) earned at least one win among their rounds, as well.
An additional highlight of the day was seeing Avi Rao ‘27, our lone Middle School competitor, earning First Place overall in Declamation in the simultaneously held Middle School tournament. 
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Ranney School

235 Hope Road
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Tel. 732.542.4777

Our mission is to know and value every child, nurturing intellectual curiosity and confidence, and inspiring students to lead honorably, think creatively, and contribute meaningfully to society.