By Gina Horan
Wildwood Middle High Debate Team Rises to State and National Success
There’s no debating success at Wildwood Middle High School.
Four years ago when Illiana Miranda was asked to start and coach a debate team at Wildwood Middle High School, she hesitated. She didn’t have a background in the activity and wasn’t sure how to begin. But her daughter, AmandaLesly, pushed her to give it a try. Together with classmate Esly Villeda, they launched an eight-person roster that has since grown into three teams: middle school, high school varsity and high school novice.
What started as an experiment has turned into one of Florida’s most successful programs, with Wildwood students earning state and national recognition.
Speech and debate builds skills that last long after high school, from researching and analyzing issues to speaking with poise and civility. Students compete in events ranging from original oratory to extemporaneous speaking, as well as debate formats such as Lincoln-Douglas, policy, public forum and congressional debate.
In Florida, opportunities have expanded rapidly. The Florida Forensic League has long overseen state tournaments, and in 2019 the Florida Civics and Debate Initiative launched with funding to expand access, train coaches and create new teams. Today hundreds of students statewide compete in tournaments that continue to raise Florida’s national profile.
Joseph Wise
The results at Wildwood have been remarkable. Oscar Rubio-Flores is ranked No. 1 in Florida and No. 6 nationally in Extemporaneous Debate, with Joseph Wise ranked 13th in the state and 57th nationally, and Jacob Clayton 18th in the state and 71st nationally. Jacob also placed third in Big Questions Debate. As a team, Wildwood has posted top finishes in storytelling, commentary, expository, declamation and poetry.
Jacob Clayton
Illiana credits the format itself for shaping students into thinkers and leaders. “Speech and debate gives kids the chance to pick topics they care about,” she says.
AmandaLesly Miranda
“You may start a round on the pro side, then the next one you’re on ‘neg,’ which forces you to understand both perspectives, learn reasoning and really listen. The kids who come out of this program are Gates scholars, national champions, leaders in our community, high scorers on SATs. They’re achieving above state levels,” Illiana says.
That success shows in college placements. Graduates have gone on to FSU, UF, UNF, Jacksonville, LSSC and FAMU.
Oscar Rubio-Flores
Graduate Jose Carvajal-Beltran is now at MIT on a full ride. Wildwood has produced Gates Scholars and three NSDA Academic All-Americans, with more expected next year. Students have competed at NSDA Nationals in Louisville, Phoenix and Des Moines, often advancing past prelims.
At this year’s CFL Nationals in Chicago, Oscar placed 14th in Congressional Debate. He also holds the title of National Civics and Debate Champion and 2025 FCDI State Champion for Legislative Debate.
The legacy is already being passed forward. Esly won the NCDC in Extemporaneous Debate, AmandaLesly competed at NSDA Nationals three years in a row and both are now judges while serving as an FDI Collegiate Fellow. The girls also helped lay the foundation for a team that is still growing.
Today Wildwood’s debaters train as “mental athletes,” competing online and in person through FCDI, NSDA, CFL and FFL. Practices now run after school, student-led, just like any other sport. The community spirit is clear: loyal alumni, new recruits and a coach who admits she once doubted she could lead a team but now beams at their achievements.
For Wildwood Middle High School, there’s no debating the outcome. A program built on curiosity, discipline and resilience has become one of Florida’s most successful.
THE STATS
3 teams: Middle School, High School Varsity, High School Novice
7th–12th grade students compete statewide and nationally
4 years competing at NSDA Nationals (Louisville, Phoenix, Des Moines twice)
1st in Florida, 6th in U.S.: Oscar Rubio-Flores, Extemporaneous Debate
3 NSDA Academic All-Americans (with 2 more on track to qualify)
2 national champions: Oscar Rubio-Flores (NCDC Overall Champ), Esly Villeda (NCDC Extemporaneous Debate)
1 Gates Scholar and multiple GATE scholars from the program
Colleges represented: FSU, UF, UNF, Jacksonville, LSSC, FAMU, MIT (Jose Carvajal-Beltran, full scholarship)
20+ top-50 state rankings across speech and debate events in 2024
Gina moved to Central Florida in August 2021 from the San Francisco Bay Area. She has a degree in linguistics and worked as a fashion editor, photo stylist lifestyle columnist and food writer for the Knight Ridder Newspaper Group. She also covered and photographed music festivals, fashion shows and sports throughout Northern California. In 2000, she joined KSAN radio as a morning show co-host and produced the news and sports content there for four years. She later covered travel, events and the restaurant scene for KRON-Bay TV. A veteran bartender, Gina has worked in hospitality on and off since high school. She has been with Akers Media since 2022 and hosts the Healthy Living Central Florida podcast. Her passions include travel, road trips, baseball, history books and podcasts, tasting menus and arriving in a new city without a map or guidebook.
