In order to compete at this tournament:

• You must have paid the $200 team dues to the boosters!!

• Be sure you have turned in your Tournament APS Permission Packet or you will not be able to compete/attend.

 The NMSDA District National Qualifier Tournament ("District" or "Nat Quals") is held to determine who will compete at the NSDA National Tournament. Depending on the number of entries, the top 1-2 competitors in each event (determined by number of entries) in Speech and Debate will qualify to attend the National Competition held in June. 

1- In order to compete, students must have a minimum of 25 merit points, at least 10 of which must be from competition. 

2 - No student may qualify in more than one event.

3 - If you are a qualifier or alternate, you MUST attend the informational meeting held in Mar, prior to the District National Qualifier

4- All students who enter the National Qualifier Tournament MUST plan to attend Nationals. An approximately 1-week grace period following Nat Quals will be given to confirm the entry. Any competitor who withdraws after committing to attend Nationals will forfeit entry in the following year's National Qualifier and potentially any further entry during their HS career, per the LCHS coaches' rules.

5 - All qualifying students from La Cueva High School will prepare the event they qualified in AND a supplemental event to be entered if they do not break into elimination rounds. Please refer to our Supplementals Page for more information regarding events available.

6- All qualifying students from La Cueva High School will need to assist with finding judges to cover our qualifying judge burden within that week time period. If we can not cover the judge burden, some entries will have to be dropped.

7 - Please refer to the 2026 LCHS National Tournament Fee Schedule for all those who qualify.

Links

Student Sign up - - Coming Soon! Please note, some signups may have to be dropped due to entry limits (4 entries/speech event, 4 entries/debate event) - Students may enter 2 events 

Application for NM World Schools Team - - Coming Soon! must be turned into Mrs. Eames who will submit them to the tournament.

Preference Paperwork - - Coming Soon! MUST be filled out by every student who enters District, indicating, if they qualify in two or more events, which event they choose.

Judge Sign up 

Tabroom Page - Coming Soon!

FEES - Due Midnight, Wednesday, March 11, 2026

(includes $5 payment to help cover lunch)

$15 - single entry

$25 - double entry

$35 - triple entry

Details

BRING A REFILLABLE WATER BOTTLE!

Everyone will be responsible for getting to & from the NM District National Qualifier Tournament, arrive at least 30 minutes before your event starts.

Meals: The Boosters will provide Friday Dinner & Saturday lunch at the tournament. 

You can enter up to 2 events + BQ. Each event has a limit of 4 entries/school with an ulimited number of BQ entries.

Our total non-BQ entries can not exceed 35 

Schedule:

Friday:

2:00–2:15 - Team check in

2:30 - Debate 1 (BQ running with debate)

4:00 - Extemp Draw

4:30 - Speech 1

5:45 - Debate 2

7:00 - Draw

7:30 - Speech 2

Saturday:

8:00 - Debate 3

9:15 - Extemp Draw

9:45 - Speech 3

10:45 - Debate 4

12:00 - Extemp Draw

12:30 - Speech Finals

1:30 - Debate Elim 1

2:45 - Debate Elim 2

Awards 4:30 or ASAP

National Qualifiers!

Dramatic Interpretation 

Zoe 

Big Question Debate 

Maya, Sophia, Aditi 

Public Forum Debate 

Tanay & Ryan 

Policy Debate 

Daniel & Jackson 

Lincoln-Douglas Debate 

Aanya

World Schools Debate 

Ishya, Kumail, & Nora 

Supplemental Events

Mikaela & Sithara