A Paly senior qualified for the California High School Speech Association’s State Tournament in Lincoln-Douglas debate after the two-day long qualifying tournament over the weekend.

Senior Jujhaar Singh qualified by winning five out of six rounds at the tournament, which had a field of 66 competitors from 10 to 15 schools. According to Singh, out of the nine debaters who qualified, he was the only one from Palo Alto High School. Senior Avi Arfin, who won the state championship last year, did not qualify.

Debate coach Jennie Savage said she is impressed with Singh’s debate performance.

“Jujhaar Singh earned a spot at the California State Championship for his third year in a row, which is phenomenal,” Savage said. “We have the reigning state champion, Avi Arfin, on our team, so Jujhaar will be defending our title.”

Singh is eager to get the chance to experience the state championships again.

“It feels great,” Singh said. “I’ve gone for three years in a row, and I have some high standards to live up to after Avi’s incredible performance last year, so I’m excited to be representing Paly.”

Singh sees the pressure put on him by Arfin’s win last year as a motivating force.

“I think it motivates me to keep the tradition alive and try my best,” Singh said. “It adds pressure, but I feel that pressure focuses me in a positive way.”

The tournament Singh will be competing in is from April 16-18, in Bakersfield, Calif. Singh is looking forward to the rest of his last season with the Paly Debate Team.

“I am trying to have fun and do as well as I can,” Singh said. “I really love debating, so I want to cram in as much debate as possible in this last semester.”

Aside from Singh’s victory, the debate team has been having a very positive season thus far, with seniors Nikhil Bhargava and Avi Arfin qualifying for the Tournament of Champions at the University of Kentucky by each earning at least two invitations, called “bids,” to go in qualifying tournaments.

“Initially it felt very surreal to have gotten my first bid, and then to finally qualify a few months later was just a shock to me,” Bhargava said. “Qualifying had always been a lofty goal but never one that had seemed in reach. Looking back, it feels validating to know that my hard work throughout the years has been rewarded finally. I’m really glad that Avi [Arfin] also qualified. It will definitely be fun, having a teammate in Kentucky.”

Bhargava and Arfin will be competing on Derby Weekend, May 1-3, in Lexington, Ky.