Twenty District 196 high school students had top finishes at section tournaments and qualified to compete at the state debate tournament Jan. 13-14 at the University of Minnesota. 

District 196 students won the top three state qualifying spots in policy debate: Eric Li and Archan Sen of Eagan High School were section champions, Natu Daniel and Param Thakkar of Eagan were runners-up, and Doha Elshennawy and Eden Yohannes of Rosemount High School took third. 

In Lincoln-Douglas debate, Aerin Engelstad of Eagan was section runner up, Daniel Wochnick of Eagan finished third; Julia Alex of Rosemount took fourth; Leah Willingham of Apple Valley High School finished fifth, and Colin Duffy of Rosemount took six place to qualify for the state tournament. Debaters must prepare to argue both the affirmative and negative sides of the topic.

In public forum debate, Jeune Hagape and Tasha Koch of Eagan were section champions, Indigo Sabin and Lawrence Salonga of Eagan finished fourth, and Elisabeth Nielsen and Caden Hubbs of Eastview High School qualified for state in sixth place. 

In congressional debate, Abiha Kashif of Eagan was section champion, Awa-Bilan Amarreh of Eastview was runner-up and Adrianna Halling of Eagan finished as a state qualifier. In congressional debate, students debate a variety of legislative bills and resolutions. 

This will be the 122nd annual state debate tournament, the longest-running event of the Minnesota State High School League.