ModernBrain’s 2024–2025 Season: A Year That Rewrote the National Record Books

At ModernBrain, we redefine what’s possible in youth communication.

From elementary storytelling to varsity-level policy debate, this season was the most dominant in our academy’s history. Our students didn’t just compete—they transformed tournaments, setting national records and raising the bar for what excellence looks like in speech, debate, and mock trial.

Let’s walk through just some of the historic wins our students achieved:

💥 UC Berkeley Invitational

One of the largest and most competitive university-hosted tournaments in the nation, UC Berkeley’s contest featured hundreds of entrants from across the U.S.

We had top rankings in:

• Original Oratory

• Impromptu

• Informative Speaking

• Program Oral Interpretation (POI)

• Humorous Interpretation

• Congressional Debate

• Lincoln-Douglas Debate

• Policy Debate—including middle school students advancing in a high school-level bracket.

No other academy placed so widely across this many events, especially not with a team this young.

🏆 Tournament of Champions (MS Level): Our Most Decorated TOC Yet

The Middle School Tournament of Champions is often considered the Super Bowl of speech and debate for younger competitors. This year, ModernBrain emerged as the most successful academy.

• Most advancing middle school Policy debaters in the entire country

• National champions in:

  • Oratory

  • Extemp

  • Impromptu

  • Lincoln-Douglas

• Finalists in Student Congress and more

From slow-paced persuasion to fast-flowing philosophical combat, our students showcased not just talent, but precision, strategy, and adaptability under pressure.

🎤 NIETOC (National Individual Events TOC): A ModernBrain Milestone

At NIETOC, the top individual speakers from across the nation converge—and the results speak volumes.

• Top rankings in:

  • Oratory

  • Informative

  • Impromptu

  • Expository

  • POI

  • Prose Interpretation

• The ONLY academy to win a team sweepstakes award. And—here’s the historic part—we’re the only academy to win a team award at NIETOC since 2018.

We’ve made it clear: no matter the format, ModernBrain builds winners who elevate both themselves and their teammates.

🧠 National Online Forensics League: National #1 in Every Division

Across the entire season, our students led the National Online Forensics League with unprecedented sweepstakes dominance.

• #1 Elementary School team in the U.S.

• #1 Overall Middle School competitor

• #2 and #3 Overall Elementary competitors

• Season-long #1 program in the country, with a margin of hundreds of points above the next-ranked team

• Event wins in over 15 categories, from Declamation to Lincoln-Douglas

Every week, across every format, our students delivered.

⚖️ Mock Trial: Historic Firsts and Untouchable Rankings

ModernBrain has long been a force in mock trial, but this year cemented us as the global gold standard.

• A team of eighth and ninth graders placed 3rd at the Tournament of Champions—a record-breaking feat for such a young group

• Another team was undefeated in every preliminary round, the only such team at the TOC

• Only academy to ever make the final round at TOC

• One week earlier? That same team was undefeated at Empire Spring Leagues

We are the first and only academy ever ranked #1 entering elimination rounds at Empire Spring (coming up!). No other program in the world—school or private—is even close.

If you’re looking for:

• A platform where your child becomes articulate, confident, and resilient...

• A community that celebrates academic drive and creativity...

• A team of expert coaches who care deeply about personal growth—not just wins...

ModernBrain is the standard.

Our programs have helped students earn scholarships, speak on national stages, and thrive in top college programs. But even more than that, they’ve helped young people discover their voice—and learn how to use it.