Two student debaters from Saint Mary's overcame top-tier, coached programs to win the national championship as an entirely student-led team.

MORAGA, CA / ACCESS Newswire / April 14, 2026 / Saint Mary's College of California is proud to announce that students Adrian Lossada '26 and Jasper Pacheco '27 have been crowned national champions at the National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA) National Tournament. In a historic "underdog" victory, the duo outperformed top-tier, heavily resourced teams from across the country to secure the number-one ranking.

The tournament, held at Mercer University in Atlanta, Georgia, concluded on February 27 with a tense final round against the University of California, Berkeley. Representing the Macken Debate and Speech Team, Lossada and Pacheco won the championship in a narrow 4-3 decision by the judges, arguing the proposition that the U.S. federal government should nationalize regulations for bounty hunters.

What makes the victory particularly remarkable is that the team is entirely student-run. Since 2025, the Macken Team has operated without a formal coach. Lossada and Pacheco acted as both competitors and mentors, managing administrative arrangements and leading practices for the 14-member squad.

"Everybody in the room wanted us to win," said Pacheco, a Psychology major and Philosophy minor. "Saint Mary's was barely known, had never made it anywhere near this far, and had no coach. We were the people's champions."

The Macken Debate and Speech Team is supported by the generosity of alumnus John Macken '62, a retired physicist and entrepreneur. Macken, who helped revive the program 30 years ago, credited his own debate experience with providing the advocacy skills necessary to launch his scientific career.

"Jasper and Adrian were not only the top debaters, but they essentially became the coaches of the team," said Macken. "It's an amazing accomplishment."

For Lossada, a Psychology major, the win was the culmination of a decade of dedication to the craft. "When they announced that we were the first-place team national champions... I immediately thought, ‘This is a moment I will remember forever.'"

The team now looks forward to the 2026-27 season with hopes of expanding the program and continuing to challenge the traditional culture of parliamentary debate by proving that student-led teams can compete-and win-at the highest level.

About Saint Mary's College of California
Located in Moraga, California, Saint Mary's College is a private Catholic, Jesuit, and Lasallian university known for its rigorous liberal arts curriculum and commitment to social justice. The Macken Debate and Speech Team is one of the college's oldest traditions, fostering critical thinking and public speaking excellence.

For more news and information about Saint Mary's College of California, please visit https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/news.

Media Contact:
Mike Janes
Phone: (510) 571-7497‬
Email: mej10@stmarys-ca.edu

SOURCE: Saint Mary's College of California