4A Speech & Debate: RISE Wins Second-Straight State Title
By Tracy Renck
PUEBLO – For the second year in a row, RISE, a high school in Denver, is celebrating as the Class 4A Speech and Debate state champions.
RISE claimed its latest overall team title 77-70 over Peak to Peak Charter School Friday and Saturday at Pueblo Central High School.
“This felt tougher than last year,” said RISE Speech and Debate team coach Anna Steed, whose 2025 Speech and Debate team crown was the first in school history. “It felt neck and neck. The 4A teams are amazing. Shout out to Peak to Peak, Lewis-Palmer, and Delta because they gave us a run for our money the entire tournament.
“We are just really happy to come out on top. We can’t believe it. We are ecstatic.”
Lewis-Palmer (63 points), Delta (50), and Discovery Canyon (28) rounded out the top five in the overall team race.
RISE also won the Speech Only team title, while Delta took top honors in Debate.
RISE’s Victoria Nungaray-Arias (Dramatic Interpretation); Saviour Jerusalem (Humorous Interpretation); and Aliyah Madden (Program Oral Interpretation) paced their team with individual championships.
“This is surreal and insane,” said Nungaray-Arias, a senior. “We have been preparing for this all year trying to win state again and reclaim our championship and it feels like all the work we have put in was worth it. This is the cherry on top.”
RISE senior Miranda Rodriguez-Ramirez, who finished third in Original Oratory, also was soaking in her team’s second-consecutive state championship.
“This feels unreal,” Rodriguez-Ramirez said. “We were preparing so much, and we have a slightly smaller team this year, but this year the pieces have been so connected with everyone. Everyone has shared their story and what it truly means to be a part of this team. We want to share just all these different experiences and it is such a great team to be a part of because everyone is so unique and so different and that’s what makes this an amazing, loving team that I call my family.”
RISE, which opened its doors in 2016, has become a state power in speech and debate, something that makes Steed proud.
“These state championships are a result of the culture of our school,” Steed said. “We are so supported by everyone at the school. It is an entire community, teachers, parents, family members, coaches… our former principal is here. It is a culture that our kids value and they see what it can do for them.
“We are looking forward to the three-peat. Not too much pressure on that one, but we are excited to come back and keep the legacy going.”
Overall Team standings: RISE 77; Peak to Peak 70; Lewis Palmer 63; Delta 50; Discovery Canyon 28; Cheyenne Mountain 25; Summit 24; Palmer Ridge 23; Air Academy 23; Littleton 20
Team Standings – Debate Only: Delta 26; Peak to Peak 24; Discovery Canyon 23; Cheyenne Mountain 21; Summit 20; D’Evelyn 14; Palisade 13; Lewis-Palmer 13; Standley Lake 12; Durango 11
Team Standings – Speech Only: RISE 73; Lewis-Palmer 50; Peak to Peak 46; Delta 24; Littleton 15; Palmer Ridge 14; Woodland Park 13; Air Academy 13; Vista Ridge 12; Valor Christian 11
Individual State Champions
Original Oratory: Julianna Wainwright, Lewis Palmer
Humorous Interpretation: Saviour Jerusalem, RISE
Duo Interpretation: Mark Messner and Gage Strawmatt, Woodland Park
Lincoln Douglas Debate: Beckett Therrien, Standley Lake
Program Oral Interpretation: Aliyah Madden, RISE
Informative Speaking: Grayson Hester, Lewis-Palmer
Public Forum Debate: Evangeline McFarland and Koen Beaver, Cheyenne Mountain
Congress: Sara Zareva, Air Academy
Poetry Reading: Alayna Garrett, Air Academy
Dramatic Interpretation: Victoria Nungaray-Arias, RISE
International Extemporaneous Speaking: Naitik Sinha, Peak to Peak
United States Extemporaneous Speaking: Neva Joseph, Peak to Peak
