Meet 20 of South Australia’s top debaters and why the school hobby setting them up for life
It “once was the domain of the nerd” but now students are signing up for their futures. Meet 20 of the SA’s brightest and most argumentative students.
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Confidence, critical thinking and an understanding of world issues are just some of the benefits of debating in high school.
There were about 1400 students from 62 schools across all year levels, as young as year 5, involved in Debating SA competitions last year.
The 2025 season begins in Term 2 with the state’s top school kid debaters set to fight it out in grand final at Parliament House in Term 3 with Governor Frances Adamson presenting awards.
Debating SA chairwoman Sonja Lowen said “debating was once the domain of the nerd but not anymore”.
“Many students like to debate their parents or siblings and want to learn the skills to win an argument with them,” Ms Lowen said.
“Teachers often comment that they can tell who the debaters are from their written work.”
Meet 20 of SA’s brightest debaters who attest to the benefits of the sport which has set them up to be future leaders.
Hardy Huang
School: Mercedes College
Age: 15
Hardy Huang may only be in year 10 but he already has more than four years debating experience under his belt.
The teen said he started debating in year 5 “because it seemed enjoyable and a few of my friends were doing it so I tagged along”.
“I love the critical thinking parts like in rebuttal,” Hardy said.
“It’s very satisfying to get the light bulb moment in which you find a strong counter argument.”
Some of his favourite parts of debating include working in a team and developing knowledge in different and interesting topics.
While Hardy was not yet sure what he wanted to pursue as a career, he said “debating definitely has opened my eyes in the field of law”.
Gina Barreto
School: Mercedes College
Age: 16
A conversation with her homeroom teacher in year 6 led Gina Barreto to “explore debating as a way to think analytically and investigate a complex issue”.
“My favourite part of debating has always been the spontaneity and intensity of preparing rebuttal as my team’s third speaker,” the year 12 student said.
“I love that I am provided the opportunity to cultivate my perspectives on a multifaceted topic and perhaps find common ground on a topic that I may not necessarily agree with.”
Following school, Gina hopes to study dentistry with future aspirations of working in public health policy.
“Debating fosters well-rounded individuals by ensuring the development of critical thinkers, considerate listeners, and courageous advocates,” she said.
MEET THE SCHOOL CAPTAINS OF 2025
Abbey
School: Adelaide High School
Age: 17
It was Abbey’s twin sister who introduced her to debating when she was in year 5 at Black Forest Primary School.
“My twin really enjoyed it and I thought that it would be fun,” the now year 12 said.
“When I watched her debates, it made me want to join in.”
Her favourite parts of debating are working in a team and discussions that occur during debate.
“I like the challenge of being on the side that you disagree with, as it challenges your own beliefs,” Abbey said.
After school she hopes to be a primary school teacher.
Debating “helps all careers”, she said, as it “helps you think on your feet, find evidence for your arguments … and helps build your confidence in public speaking”.
Naisha
School: Adelaide High School
Age: 17
Naisha enjoys the strategy involved in debating.
The now year 12 student started debating in her first year of high school in 2021 and hasn’t looked back.
“I wanted to challenge myself and try something new,” the teen said.
“I was always quite reserved so I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone.”
Camaraderie and the team atmosphere are among the highlights each time she takes the debate podium.
“It gives me a rush of adrenaline that is hard to replicate any other way,” she said.
After school, Naisha hopes to study architectural design and she believes debating will help her with her career as she develops her skills in “collaborating with others and tackling complex projects.
Ryan George
School: Westminster School
Age: 17
Debating runs in Ryan George’s family as his mother was a member of her school’s public speaking team.
“She was very keen that I get involved in debating or public speaking early,” the year 12 student said.
His year 6 teacher at Sunrise Christian School, before Ryan moved to Westminster, also played a part in encouraging his love of debating.
“Debating allows me to understand and engage with relevant, thought-provoking and often highly complex social, cultural and political issues in a way that is rarely possible in many school subjects,” Ryan said.
One of his favourite parts of debating includes competition and “the team-building it promotes”.
Next year, the teen hopes to study medicine.
“Particularly for my aspirations to public health positions, the ability to articulate ideas clearly, confidently and concisely … are extremely valuable,” Ryan said.
Diya Patel
School: Westminster School
Age: 16
Diya Patel enjoys proving a point.
The year 12 student started debating in primary school “because I enjoyed challenging ideas”.
“I was drawn to how debates push you to consider both sides of an issue and think critically under pressure to defend views you might not even agree with,” Diya said.
Debating for the 16 year old is a “mic of strategy, logic and persuasion”.
“It’s not just about being right, it’s about being able to effectively convince the adjudicator you’re right,” she said.
After school, the teen hopes to study medicine and she believes debating will help her get there.
“It teaches me to analyse complex information quickly, construct logical arguments and explain ideas clearly, which is all crucial for diagnosing patients and discussing treatment options,” she said.
THE NEW SCHOOL PRINCIPALS FOR 2025
Katie Ngo
School: Glenunga International High School
Age: 15
In 2024, Katie Ngo won the SA Debating Association debater of the year award for the second time in a row.
The accomplished year 11 student, who started debating in year 7, had been looking forward to starting the sport since primary school.
“Growing up, I was always told I argued too much,” the student said.
“I have always wanted to be the type of person whose smart thinking and eloquent speaking could grab the attention of everyone in the room.”
Her parents suggested she try debating but she began “not only trying debating, but to work to becoming one of the best”.
After school, Katie hopes to study law and international relations.
“Not only are debating skills essential to thriving in those fields, but the broad range of issues I dive into as part of each topic makes more educated about the world around me,” she said.
Snehitha Satyavolu
School: Glenunga International High School
Age: 17
A lot has changed since Snehitha Satyavolu started debating about six years ago in year 6.
“All I remember from when I started is that after I watched my older sister and her debates, I was super keen on this idea of public speaking,” the now year 12 student said.
Initially, she was hesitant to participate in competition, but debating gave her a chance “to try something a little different”.
“Now, I love it because it makes me think, it makes me learn about the world around me and it always surprises me,” Snehitha said.
“Whether it be with topics or the opposition, I am always taken by surprise when it comes to a new debate.”
In the future she wants to be a doctor.
“You have to learn how to improvise, you have to critically think and to have to expect surprises,” the teen said.
“These are all skills that I know are going to be so valuable in the medical profession.”
Flynn Hutchinson
School: Endeavour College
Age: 16
After dipping his toe in the water in year 9, Flynn Hutchinson fully committed to debating the following year.
Now in year 11 and having seen his friends get a confidence boost from it, Flynn is “hooked”.
“I was immediately hooked by the thrill of trying to find unbreakable arguments and counterarguments and support from amazing teammates and coaches made sure I didn’t get discouraged,” the 16-year-old said.
The sport has developed strong friendships for Flynn, which “makes victories so much more rewarding”.
Upon graduating school, the student hopes to follow his “big dream" of becoming a full-time musician.
If that doesn’t work out, he’ll try his hand at teaching or law.
“Debating revealed my passion for finding the truth and educating others,” Flynn said.
Alex Fechner
School: Endeavour College
Age: 15
When her school debating club started up again when she was in year 8, Alex Fechner jumped at the chance to participate.
“I have always enjoyed public speaking and arguing so I decided to give it a try,” Alex said.
Now the year 11 student uses debating as a way “to express myself as a person and to learn more skills for life”.
Since starting debating she gained confidence, collaboration and research skills.
But it’s the “passion and enthusiasm that everyone brings to debating” that keeps Alex coming back to the competition each year.
“Everyone comes in as a team and has a great time competing against each other,” she said.
Debating has opened her eyes to career possibilities in law, politics and accounting after school.
While her path is undecided, Alex knows she wants to “help people into a better life”.
Debating for the student helps her in “becoming a leader within my school community”.
Aditi Thomas
School: Unley High School
Age: 17
An online student-organised competition gave Aditi Thomas her start in debating when she was in year 10.
Two years later, she loves “how much I learn from every debating topic”.
“I started debating because I thought it was a great opportunity to challenge myself at public speaking and be more articulate,” Aditi said.
Previously, the year 12 student said she was “prone to rambling”.
“I enjoy how debating forces me to think critically,” she said.
With a love of learning languages and a fascination with communication, Aditi wants to become a speech pathologist.
“It is a field that requires you to be an excellent communicator and listener,” she said.
“Debating has helped me practice conciseness and effective communication in my speech.”
Karina Heinson
School: Unley High School
Age: 17
Karina Heinson became hooked on debating in year 6, but the following year her primary school didn’t have the numbers to field a team.
As she began high school, the now year 12 student didn’t miss a chance to participate.
“I was encouraged by my peers and teachers to further develop my ability to analyse, evaluate and articulate my ideas through this activity,” the teen said.
“I love debating because it is challenging and insightful.”
With the student’s experience, she has now taken on a coaching role, which she finds “very rewarding as I can share my love of debating with younger students”.
Next year Karina hopes to jet off to Canberra to study a double degree in international relations and politics and philosophy and economics.
“Ultimately I want to work international policy making and geopolitical research and I am especially interested in language preservation,” she said.
Kyle Perera
School: Emmaus Christian College
Age: 12
While Kyle Perera might be one of the younger debaters, he already has two years of experience under his belt.
In year 5, the student attended tryouts for the team and was asked to join.
“I like making good arguments and expressing my concerns to an audience,” the now year 7 student said.
Despite having just started his high school journey, Kyle is already thinking about a career in politics after he finishes.
“If I was a federal member speaking to a whole room of important people, I would need some courage and debating helps me have that,” he said.
Megan Tran
School: Emmaus Christian College
Age: 15
A whole-class practice debate exercise in year 6 sparked a passion for debating in Megan Tran.
Four years later, she loves “having a team support me and fighting for a cause I care about”.
After school, Megan hopes to study medicine and work in allied health.
“In debating you learn to have a voice and to project your ideas,” the year 10 student said.
“It helps me improve my communication skills.”
Emily Nguyen
School: Wilderness School
Age: 17
It is Emily Nguyen’s eighth year of debating after she started “out of curiosity” when she saw her brother participating.
“It seemed like a fun and cool opportunity,” the year 12 student said.
“I’ve developed so many necessary skills including collaboration, decision-making and problem-solving.”
She loves how “debating doesn’t have a ‘correct’ argument or view”.
“It embraces all different views and perspectives, which allows each debater to flourish in their own ways,” Emily said.
Next year, she hopes to study medicine ahead of embarking on a career as a doctor.
“I think the skills I’ve developed from debating will benefit me significantly in reaching these career goals,” the teen said.
“Being a doctor requires lots of patient interaction, empathy and understanding and I believe these skills of considering different and unfamiliar viewpoints required in debating will greatly assist me with this.”
Niya Singhal
School: Wilderness School
Age: 16
Niya Singhal represents not just her school but also her state on the SA Debating Team.
“I had always had a passion for public speaking and debating really appealed to me as being a platform to develop my public speaking skills,” said Niya, who started in year 7.
The now year 12 student loves the unpredictability of debating.
“When you are given an hour to prepare, you never go into a debate fully ready, so it is always exciting to see where the debate will take you,” she said.
She will use her skills after school to pursue a degree in law and international relations.
“Debating has taught me soft skills that will help me no matter what career I might pursue,” Niya said.
“I have learnt how to work with and lead a team in high pressure environments.”
Larissa Xanthopoulos
School: Trinity College
Age: 13
Larissa Xanthopoulos started debating about a year ago as her best friend was “consistently encouraging me”.
In her first year, she was crowned 2024 debater of the year in the year 6/7 category.
“I’m glad she was so stubborn and made me give it a shot,” the year 8 student said.
“I fell in love with debating instantly.”
Her favourite part of debating is “the thrill that I get when I’m about to stand up and speak”.
“My heart starts to race and my mind thinks of every possible outcome in those few seconds of being called to stand,” Larissa said.
“However as soon as I begin to debate, all worries go out of my head and I breeze my way through my words.”
After school, she hopes to follow in her eldest brother’s footsteps and join the Australian Defence Force Academy.
“I’ve wanted to be a lawyer for a couple of years now and if the defence force will allow that to become a reality, I don’t know what would stop me from diving into AFDA headfirst,” the teen said.
Zinnia Weight
School: Trinity College
Age: 15
A notice on the school website to join debating club piqued Zinnia Weight’s curiosity when she was in year 7.
She attended a meeting and “knew straight away that it was going to be my thing and my passion grew from there”.
The year 10 student’s favourite role in debating is third speaker as she gets to write her speeches during the debate, in rebuttal to the other team.
“Although it can be stressful to make up arguments without being prepared … I find it much more interactive and thrilling,” she said.
Despite not being set on what she will study after school, Zinnia knows she wants to go to university.
“I love language, emotion, politics and critical thinking,” the student said.
“It (debating) also helps my critical thinking skills as you often have to argue for a side you don’t agree with, which forces you to think about things you wouldn’t normally consider.”
Gianna Dias
School: St Aloysius College
Age: 15
Gianna Dias quickly developed a “strong passion” for debating after taking it up last year.
“The experience has been both challenging and fulfilling and I have gained many skills that I can continue building,” the year 10 student said.
“I started debating because I have always had an interest in discussing important topics and sharing my opinions.”
The teen loves the opportunity to “step outside of my own views” and consider alternative arguments.
“Debating constantly challenges me to grow creatively,” Gianna said.
After school, she hopes to become a pediatrician as she has “always had a strong interest in healthcare and a passion for working with children”.
“The experience of debating will be something I cherish forever and it has allowed me to grow in confidence as a person,” she said.
Saachi Kaur Sooraj
School: St Aloysius College
Age: 14
A desire to improve her public speaking skills led Saachi Kaur Sooraj to debating.
“I believed debating would be the perfect way to challenge myself and grow,” she said.
“In year 6, my friends decided to join debating with me and together we discovered a real passion for it.”
Debating quickly “became something we all looked forward to” for Saachi and her friends.
Her favourite parts include meeting new people and building strong arguments.
After school, she hopes to pursue a career in medicine.
“I hope to study medicine at university and learn how to make a meaningful impact on people’s lives,” the year 10 student said.
“Communication skills further enhance patient safety and satisfaction.”
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