Miami-Dade Urban Debate League Teams Dominate Torneo UDLs de Invierno 2025–26 at Debate en Español National Tournament

Miami, FL — February 10, 2026 — The Miami-Dade Urban Debate League (MDUDL) delivered a commanding performance at the Torneo UDLs de Invierno 2025–26 (Debate en Español) on January 12, 2026, earning top honors across both Advanced and Novice divisions in a national competition that brought together Urban Debate Leagues from Miami, Minnesota, and Chicago. Competing entirely in Spanish, Miami students showcased elite research, advocacy, and bilingual communication skills, earning multiple team and individual championships.

Advanced Division (Avanzada)

Miami’s Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High School claimed the Advanced Division Team Championship, with debaters Ceballos & CaballeroGomez earning first place overall.

Individually, Alejandra Caballero Gomez secured 1st Place Speaker – Advanced, marking a sweep of the top honors in the division for Miami.

Novice Division (Principiante)

In the Novice Division, Miami Senior High School earned the following placements:

• 1st Place Team: Alvarez & Incer

• 2nd Place Team: Osorto & Villasmil

Miami Senior High School also secured the top individual speaker awards:

• 1st Place Speaker: Denis Incer

• 2nd Place Speaker: Xavier Alvarez

• 3rd Place Speaker (Tie): Gabriel Villasmil

Overall, Miami teams earned championships in both divisions, multiple runner-up placements, and the majority of top individual speaker awards.

“Debate en Español allows our students to compete at the highest level while embracing their linguistic and cultural identity,” said Kalyn Lee, Program Director of the Miami-Dade Urban Debate League. “This tournament demonstrated not only academic excellence, but the power of bilingual advocacy. Our students are proving that rigorous policy debate thrives in every language.”

The Torneo UDLs de Invierno reflects MDUDL’s continued commitment to expanding equitable access to competitive debate opportunities. By competing in Spanish against other Urban Debate Leagues nationwide, Miami students demonstrated that they are leaders not only locally, but on the national stage. The Debate en Español initiative continues to strengthen MDUDL’s mission to empower students through critical thinking, civic engagement, and academic excellence.

About Miami-Dade Urban Debate League: The Miami-Dade Urban Debate League (MDUDL) provides debate opportunities to middle and high school students across the county, with a focus on underserved schools. Through debate, students gain critical thinking, communication, and leadership skills that prepare them for lifelong success.

Media Contact:

Kalyn Lee, Program Director

Miami-Dade Urban Debate League

Email: klee@urbandebate.org