MISHAWAKA, Ind. -- Penn High School announced on Thursday that five debate students have qualified for the National Debate Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa this summer.

Penn’s National qualifiers:

• Public Forum - Alina Luck and Jaanavi Kaushi 1st place, Amina Spahic and Rebecca Wolter 2nd Place
• Lincoln Douglas – Akul Bhamabani 1st place

School officials say PHS Debate Team Coach Jeremy Starkweather looks to make a repeat as State Champions this weekend at the Debate State Finals at Avon High School.

PHS: Penn Debate Team with Penn Principal Dr. Sean Galiher and Debate Coach Jeremy Starkweather

State qualifiers include:

Congress:

• Grant Spadafore
• Ishita Masetty
• Sohan Patel
• Roman Gargis
• Lincoln-Douglas:
• Akul Bhambhani
• Sarah Rooney
• Chris Chen
• Anton Kozelichki

Public Forum:

• Alina Luck and Jaanavi Kaushik
• Leah Wagner and Rayna Donald
• Amina Spahic and Rebecca Wolter
• Ben Galiher and Manny Singleton

Policy Debate:

• Ava Lightburn and Leena Khan
• Kai King and Nora McKinney
• Joshua Oh and William Wu
• Ethan Schafer and Rebeca Ramirez

World Schools Debate:

• Jawad Siddique, Stanley Liew, Noah Shafer, Lynn Chung and Kevin Wu
• Ishita Awasthi, Mira Yaradi, Sarah Ahmed, Sydney Herriman and Victoria Sanchez