This Hewlett junior is Phoenix bound

Hewlett High School junior Mara Riegel (they/them) is ranked third in the state and 15th in the United States among all debate competitors. Now, Riegel is ready to embark as a competitor in this year’s National Speech and Debate Tournament in Phoenix from June 13 to the 16.

Riegel, who grew up in a family of lawyers, learned to debate on a variety of topics, including politics, sports and abortion.

“It’s kind of been engraved for being the way I am to be willing and excited to speak,” Riegel said. “When I got to high school and realized there was a club for it, I thought, ‘Alright I’ll put my couple of years of experience to use and see what happens,’ and I kind of really never stopped since.”

Social Science coordinator Joseph Van Wie, who also serves as Riegel’s adviser, leads the Debate Club at Hewlett High.

Riegel said that Van Wie had been a big inspiration during the national’s qualifier’s debate career.

“He has opened every opportunity I had in debate,” Riegel said. “He was the person who told me about these online competitions, who shared the possibility of going to nationals and coordinated it. He really has been the backbone for this whole thing.”

Local online competitions led the debate qualifier to compete at the national level.

One local competition Riegel competed in was the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway online tournament called the Citron Online Speech and Debate District, which is held once a month through Zoom.

“On the local competition level, you do four rounds every time and because you participate, you get points through the National Speech and Debate Association,” Riegel said. “Every win is four points and every loss is two.”

To qualify for nationals, 75 points are needed, and Riegel took part in eight competitions to qualify.

Before any competition, Riegel goes through preparation to get in the  competitor’s “zone” and that will continue in Arizona.

“I look at the prompt objectively and think my point of view of it and I think about what someone would say on the other side of the argument,” Riegel said. “I drink some tea, listen to music and then set my computer up. I try to be as on my toes as possible in a way.”

Riegel’s father, Jonathon Riegel, said that debating was on Mara’s radar since her youth.

“For someone who never stopped talking growing up, it’s finally coming in handy that her verbal ability is really distinguishing her from most kids her age,” he said. “She’s really good at it, she enjoys it and the pride that she has in herself when she finishes is what every parent wishes for.”

Rachel Weintraub, Mara’s mother, said that she is thrilled Mara is being recognized.

“I am thrilled that Mara is being recognized for the National Speech and Debate Tournament,” she said. “Because that is what we have every day over anything and everything if it comes to debate. I lose and I am proud to lose to Mara.”

One moment Mara learned along the way was that competitors don’t always agree with what you have to say. The best way to win, Mara believes, is to be respectful.

“The best way to win is to just be respectful and completely solid in your argument,” Riegel shared. “If someone has to be rude to you to win, then it means you are doing a good job.”