Coach Solemei

Coach Solemei is a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania studying Economics and Political Science. She brings an exceptional competitive speech background, specializing in Original Oratory. In high school, she earned national recognition as the 2024 NSDA National Runner-Up, 2024 Harvard Runner-Up, and 2024 Texas State Champion. She was also the 2023 Tournament of Champions Champion, a 2022 NSDA National Finalist, and consistently ranked among the top performers at major national tournaments.
Beyond OO, she excelled in POI and Duo, finaling at prestigious competitions including NIETOC, the Barkley Forum, and Harvard. As team captain for her high school—an NSDA School of Distinction and nationally ranked top-20 program—she frequently took on coaching responsibilities, helping younger competitors refine their speaking, writing, and performance skills.
At UPenn, Solemei continues to cultivate her interest in communication and analysis through her work with Wharton Global Research & Consulting, the Perry World House policy think tank, and The Daily Pennsylvanian. She is thrilled to return to coaching and is passionate about supporting students as they grow into confident, compelling speakers and successful competitors.