MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA — Superintendent Pam Beaudoin and Principal Julie Sgroi are pleased to share that the Manchester Essex Regional High School (MERHS) Speech and Debate Team finished its season with an impressive showing at the Massachusetts Speech and Debate League State Final Tournament at Chelmsford High School.
The annual tournament is the most competitive of the year, in 2026 it marked a historic milestone as the largest Novice Public Forum competition to date, featuring 95 teams from across the state.
Leading the MERHS team, Lily Berkowitz and Grace Burgess delivered an outstanding performance, finishing 14th overall with a 5-3 record. As they entered the elimination rounds as the 28th seed, the duo defeated the fifth-seeded team, placing them among the top-ranked teams in Massachusetts.
Annabelle Kerivan and Rosie Renehan finished strong with a 3-3 record, demonstrating their skill against highly competitive opponents.
Freddy Jakes and Stella Langille, along with Abby Borgerson and Claire Yukins, secured 2-4 records, contributing to the team’s competitive presence at the tournament.
The State Final capped a year of growth, hard work, and spirited competition for the MERHS Speech and Debate Team. “Facing the most talented debaters in Massachusetts at the largest state tournament ever held, the team rose to the occasion and proudly represented MERSD,” said Sally Berkowitz, Debate Director.
“I am incredibly proud of our students for their dedication, resilience and outstanding performance at this year’s final,” said Superintendent Beaudoin. “Competing at the largest tournament in state history and achieving such strong results is a testament to their commitment and the strong future of the program.”
Community members will have the opportunity to see a live debate and support the team in an upcoming mock-debate fundraiser, for which additional details will be released shortly.
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