The clock ticking at three hours and 31 minutes before the start of the upcoming new year, Speech and Debate Co-President Pranav Balakrishnan ‘25 was hunched over his computer screen, repeatedly refreshing University of Michigan’s High School Impact Debate website. Finally, after hours of tense excitement, the last Coach Poll of 2024 popped up. Balakrishnan and the Policy Debate Captain, Ethan Andrew ‘26, widely considered Westwood’s most successful debate team by their peers, were officially ranked the second-best team in the world. 

The Coach Poll is an international ranking system where the top Policy Debate coaches select the top 25 teams in the nation. Balakrishnan and Andrew’s recent ranking surpassed the previous campus record of fourth by two points.

“I joined debate looking up to Westwood history,” Balakrishnan said. “I hope that some other kid looks up to our achievements the same way that I looked up to my peers. I really hope this is never lost to time.”

Although it’s been a prominent presence throughout his high school experience, Balakrishnan’s initial decision to join debate was abrupt and last minute. The day that freshman course selections were due, he decided to drop AP Computer Science Principles and take Debate 1 instead. The decision set him on the path to become part of the world’s second best Policy Debate team. On a broader level, however, it has also made a colossal impact on Balakrishnan’s personality development and time in high school.

“Debate has impacted me dramatically,” Balakrishnan said. “I miss dozens of weekends throughout the year, and have to make up a bunch of schoolwork. But I’ve also met my closest friends in debate, and have made connections with people all across the world. That’s irreplaceable.”

Each day, Balakrishnan and Andrew spend hours researching articles and preparing cases, yet during rounds, when they make mistakes that can cost them entire debates, they turn to their positive attitudes to continue pushing through and striving for success. 

“[After losing a round, I tell myself], ‘It’s impossible to change what happened, but we can always change the future,’” Balakrishnan said. “If I make a mistake, I always make a commitment to never make that same mistake again. It is never good enough to go halfway.”

“There’s so much to learn,” Balakrishnan said. “I’ve often found myself in debate rounds where I’m not sure of a concept or high-level idea. Then, after the tournament or round, it’s important that I go back, learn, and discuss that concept with teammates and coaches.”

Their shared love for debate has motivated the pair to continue striving for the best, even when they face challenges and discouragement.

“In short, I just really like debate,” Andrew said. “And when you’re doing something you enjoy, you always want to put your full attention and effort.” 

For Andrew, his love for debate was kindled in the very beginning of high school. From the moment he started, he was fully committed to pouring in the effort and motivation required to pursue debate.

“I started doing debate in my freshman year,” Andrew said. “I wanted to join mostly because I liked arguing [with] people, but also because the idea of debate seemed appealing. I’m infinitely grateful that I stuck around.”

Last year, after breaking and advancing to the third elimination round at the Tournament of Champions (TOC), one of the most prestigious Speech and Debate tournaments, Andrew solidified his position as an expert and crafted debater amongst his peers in the debate community on campus. Along with achieving this prominent cornerstone during his debate journey, Andrew’s many other achievements earned him the elected spot of Policy Debate Captain. He is the first junior to have held the position in more than seven years.

“I don’t think being Policy Captain changed my perception of Policy at all,” Andrew said. “I think it gives me a lot more control over how the system operates, but it’s also difficult to balance [preparing cases], debate tournaments, and team management all at once sometimes.”

In addition to balancing preparation for debate tournaments and team management, the tournaments themselves have jumped to a higher degree of skilled competitiveness. To keep up with Balakrishnan, Andrew participates in the highest national tournaments with participants made of the top teams from across the world. 

“One challenge I’ve faced this year is debating at a different level [to match my older partner],” Andrew said. “Our hardest debates this year are substantially harder than what I debated last year. I am much better than I was before, but it’s certainly a new experience. Practice makes perfect though, and I feel much better in these debates than I did in the beginning of the year.”

In the midst of stressful times, Andrew finds comfort and support from his fellow debaters. He notes having received valuable help from his peers and the rest of the Policy Debate team when researching cases.

“[What I love the most about debate is] the type of people that debate brings together — the type who are willing to put aside countless hours every week, miss numerous school days, research complex legal topics, write thousands of pages of files, and talk about innovative ideas all day,” Andrew said. “The fact that it’s such a rigorous, academic activity put together in a game format brings out the best in its participants.”

In the next year and half, Andrew plans on sharpening his skills in debate with the help of critique from his peers, consultants and the leading coaches that lead the University of Michigan Debate Institutes Seven Week Camp.

“Camp is potentially the best place for me to hone my skills for next year,” Andrew said. “I will be working a lot on execution and speaking since those are some of the weakest parts of my debating.”

Since it is Balakrishnan’s last year in high school and possibly his last year competing in scholastic debate, the pair have come to the conclusion that they must give each remaining tournament their all.

“Performing well is a big goal that Pranav and I have this year,” Andrew said. “Part of my motivation is knowing that this is Pranav’s last shot.”

The pair hopes that more preparation, research, and practice will give them their final push to achieve even greater heights in Policy Debate.

“For the remaining semester, in the end I’d like to win the TOC, Texas Forensic Association (TFA), etc,” Andrew said. “Hopefully we [will] also move up on the poll. For the final year of high school, I want to push myself to become the best team in the country. ”

As a senior with just a few months left in high school, Balakrishnan hopes to leave his mark on the Speech and Debate community, not just in Westwood but also for debaters around the world.While Balakrishnan and Andrew acknowledge that their achievements and victories may be lost to time, they hope to make their mark on Westwood, and set a new generation of talented debaters on a path to success.

“I want to leave the Westwood program [so] that it’s prepared to win the TOC every year into the future,” Balakrishnan said. “We are extraordinarily lucky that this is even somewhat achievable, and I’d really love to turn Westwood into a debate powerhouse just like some of the schools that have dominated high school Policy Debate for years.”