Roxbury Latin Earns the Googins Cup for the Sixth Consecutive Year

This winter’s Kingswood Oxford public speaking competition took place virtually on February 8. For the sixth year in a row, Roxbury Latin’s team earned the Googins Cup, awarded to the school that places first overall in four categories of competition: Persuasive Speaking, After Dinner Speaking, Impromptu Speaking, and Ethical Dilemmas.

The four RL boys contributing to the team’s success this year were John Wilkinson (I), Nick Raciti (II), Vishnu Emani (II), and David Sullivan (II). In addition to their team success, two boys earned individual recognition: David not only placed first in Impromptu Speaking, and second in After Dinner Speaking, but he also placed first as the Top Overall Speaker in the competition, which included 52 students from eleven schools across New England. John also earned a third place finish, in After Dinner Speaking.

The virtual nature of this year’s debate and public speaking tournaments has not lessened the boys’ hard work and commitment, faculty advisor Stewart Thomsen has noted. Faculty member Ken Hiatt ‘93 served as the judge for Roxbury Latin’s team of four at this winter’s virtual competition.