PLANO, Texas — Students from Plano Independent School District delivered standout performances at the Texas Forensic Association State Championship, earning top rankings and statewide recognition across multiple competitive categories.

Held in Prosper, the tournament brought together 176 schools and more than 1,400 students, making it one of the largest and most competitive speech and debate events in Texas.

Plano West Finishes Near the Top

Students from Plano West Senior High School led the district’s success, finishing second overall in the state. The team saw strong results across a wide range of events, including Congressional Debate, Public Forum Debate and various speaking categories.

Among the highlights, Angel Ribo was crowned state champion and top speaker in Lincoln-Douglas Debate, while Ryan Xu earned third place in International Extemporaneous Speaking. Catherine Cockrell also placed fifth in the state in Humorous Interpretation.

Seniors Rehan Buvvaji and Roshan Shivnani capped off exceptional seasons, with Shivnani earning a state championship title and Buvvaji finishing third overall in the competition.

Plano East Secures Top-10 Finish

Plano East Senior High School placed 10th overall, with students advancing deep into several categories. Aakash Arulkumaran stood out with a second-place finish in Congressional Debate, while Angelo Ferris earned fifth place in United States Extemporaneous Speaking.

Multiple students reached semifinal and quarterfinal rounds across events such as Impromptu Speaking, Informative Speaking and Original Oratory, reflecting the program’s depth and consistency.

District-Wide Excellence Across Events

Students from Plano Senior High School also contributed to the district’s success with strong performances in debate and interpretation categories, including semifinal and quarterfinal finishes in Original Oratory, Dramatic Interpretation and Informative Speaking.

Across all three schools, Plano ISD students earned recognition in categories ranging from Duo Interpretation and Public Forum Debate to Extemporaneous Speaking and Congressional Debate.

A Continued Tradition of Achievement

District officials praised students, coaches and program sponsors for their dedication and preparation, noting that the results highlight Plano ISD’s long-standing strength in speech and debate.

With multiple finalists, semifinalists and state champions, the district once again demonstrated its ability to compete at the highest level, reinforcing its reputation as one of Texas’ leading programs in academic competition.


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