Somerset's Own: Cedar Hill Prep Debate Teams Shine at State Finals
There's something remarkable happening at Cedar Hill Preparatory School in Somerset — and it goes far beyond textbooks and test scores.
On May 2, 2026, Cedar Hill Prep's debate program took the floor at The Hun School for the final tournament of the Garden State Debate League season, competing alongside 167 students from 57 teams in one of the most competitive middle school debate leagues in New Jersey. By the end of the day, Cedar Hill Prep had finished 2nd overall in total wins — a stunning achievement that speaks to the caliber of both the students and the program behind them.
The topics were as thought-provoking as they were varied: the ethics of judicial plea bargaining, mandatory military service for U.S. citizens, social media accountability for misinformation, and — in true debate fashion — whether a hot dog is, in fact, a sandwich.
Cedar Hill Prep fielded 13 teams drawn from Grades 5 through 8, and the results were impressive across the board. Team CHP DMN — comprised of Shivad Desai, Agasthya Mabbu, and Aiden Nguyen — claimed 1st place honors, delivering standout performances throughout the day. Team CHP BCP, featuring Pragnya Banigalapatti, Kasey Conner, and Aaliyah Patel, also ranked among the tournament's top teams.
Individual accolades added to the celebration, with Afzaal Mohamed finishing 2nd, Lily Trotta placing 5th, and Aaliyah Parker ranking 8th among all speakers in the tournament.
The day also carried a touch of bittersweet emotion, as Cedar Hill Prep's 8th grade debaters took the floor for the last time in the Garden State Debate League — closing a chapter that has left a lasting mark on the program and on the school community as a whole.
Cedar Hill Preparatory School is a Preschool to 8 International Baccalaureate Candidate school located at 152 Cedar Grove Lane in Somerset, dedicated to nurturing confident, articulate, and critically thinking young scholars who are ready to engage with the world.
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