NEWARK, NJ — On Saturday, December 5, 2004, five Baltimore Urban Debate League schools boarded a bus for the East Coast UDL Regional Tournament in Newark, New Jersey, and came back champions. Out of a total of 132 teams, Mervo's team of Tyrone Jackson and Jacob Kalu took #1, with teams from Digital Harbor, Walbrook, and Forest Park all placing in the top 20 teams. Digital's team of Adam Jackson and Deverick Murray placed 4th, Walbrook's Mirage Abdul-Rahim and Tyrell Lane placed 13th, and Forest Park's Dayvon Love and Ashley Avery placed 16th overall.

With stiff competition from New York, Providence, and New Jersey Urban Debate Leagues, Baltimore's teams dominated at the Varsity Level. Awards for individual speakers were also plentiful for Baltimore Schools. In the top position, bringing home a pair of tall trophies, was Mervo's Tyrone Jackson, whose teammate Jacob Kalu came away with #3 speaker. Adam Jackson of Digital Harbor brought in the 4th place speaker award and Deverick Murray, also of Digital placed 7th.

At the East Coast UDL Regional tournament hosted by Newark's Urban Debate League,

For pictures from the tournament, please (click here)