Sisters excel on debate stage

DES MOINES, IOWA— A sister duo from Anahuac decided to give debate a try, and in just one year, they made it to nationals, traveling up north to compete against peers from around the country.

Tina and Tammy Ly of the Anahuac Speech and Debate Team competed in the 2025 National Speech and Debate Tournament from Sunday, June 15 to Friday, June 20.

“Throughout the tournament, I couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude just to be there,” said Kaitlyn Bennett, debate coach and Anahuac Middle School teacher. “Surrounded by some of the most talented competitors, coaches, and judges in the nation, the experience was both humbling and inspiring.”

In total there were 1,254 schools with 5,749 students from 49 states, and the Ly duo competed against 190 teams in the Policy/CX debate, which is cross examination debate.

Over the five days, there were 14 total rounds, and Tina and Tammy Ly were eliminated after round six with a record of four wins and two losses.

"There's an indescribable rush of adrenaline during each round - flowing arguments, typing furiously, searching through files,” Tina said, adding that after each round the duo looked for ways to improve for the next.

The sisters thanked their family, Bennett and their many supporters, with Tina adding, “They remind us that small-town girls belong on big stages. And we're here to prove it.”

Tammy shared inspiring words, ready to jump start the upcoming debate season.

“Having the opportunity to utilize our skills gained in the past few months against the nation's top competitors ignited a rush of exhilaration that can hardly be matched by anything else,” Tammy said. “This milestone isn't the end - it's the starting line.”

For Policy/CX, a single national topic was chosen in February or March of the previous year.

The Ly sisters’ topic addressed the question of if the U.S. federal government should strengthen the protection of domestic intellectual property rights with copyrights, patents and/or trademarks.

Bennett said the team began preparing in August with extensive research, and during the regular season, the team evaluated their performances, identified weaknesses in their arguments and reviewed past tournament cases from other schools.

These techniques helped the team refine their case and better anticipate other teams’ potential strategies, Bennett added.

Most of their time was spent researching and developing new arguments, with a large focus on responses against the main topic as it was a weakness during the regular season.

The team practiced for three hours Monday to Thursday each week, and after graduation, they practiced for five hours five days a week.

“More than anything, I felt incredibly proud to compete at Nationals in our very first year of debate,” Tina said. “All the early mornings, late nights and long hours of practice truly paid off.”

"We stepped into this tournament with a lot of unknowns, unsure of what we’d be up against. But the Ly sisters embraced the challenge fearlessly, entering each round with determination and resilience,” Bennett said. “Watching their growth from the start of the season to now has been nothing short of incredible, and I couldn’t be prouder of all they’ve accomplished.”

During the competition, a man ran onto the stage with a backpack, igniting fear throughout the room. The building was evacuated, and no life-threatening injuries were reported.

The Anahuac team was not on the property during the incident, and the competition resumed the next day.

The man was charged with disorderly conduct and two counts of possession of a controlled substance.