AUSTIN — Seven Dripping Springs High School speech and debate students have qualified for the 2025 National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) Tournament after competing at the Heart of Texas District Tournament at Anderson High School in Austin.

Annika Gillella, Liam Ianiro, Abir Kulkarni, Will McAdams and Zoey Parks were selected by the Heart of Texas NSDA District Leadership Committee to represent the district at the national tournament in World Schools Debate. The debaters will be split into two teams that will also feature students from Bowie High School and Anderson High School.

In 2024, Ianiro and McAdams were part of the Heart of Texas Gold team that tied for fifth place out of 200 teams at the national competition. Kulkarni and Parks were also national qualifiers in 2024.

Aaniya Khan — Congressional Debate-House — and Anvika Jain — Program Oral Interpretation — also qualified to represent Dripping Springs at the national tournament.

Nationals will be held June 15-20 in Des Moines, Iowa.