SPEECH AND DEBATE :
A creative way to write , speak , and think about issues that matter .
OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
Students on the Speech and Debate Team begin meeting in late September and often start competing against other high schools in October . The competition season lasts until late in February and culminates with a state-wide , MPAsanctioned championship . Meets are held on Saturdays and often begin at 8 a . m . and last until 4 p . m . or later . Despite the long days at school on a Saturday , the students on the team thrive on the camaraderie and competition .
“ I love being around people who enjoy doing the same things that I enjoy doing and being around people with whom I have something in common ,” said Molly Katanga ’ 24 . Katanga is a first-year member of the Speech Team and joined after encouragement from her English teacher . Like many of her teammates , she has found success and consistently placed either first or second in Dramatic Interpretation , her competition category .
Like many parts of Thornton Academy , the Speech and Debate Teams have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic . Tournaments are now held in an online meeting space . Where students once performed live in front of other competitors and judges , they now compete against each other using only a microphone , camera , computer or tablet . “ My hope for next year is that we are able to compete in person and also that more people will join our team ,” said Theodore Gluck ’ 23 . pieces written by established authors to pieces written by the students themselves . Thornton Academy has had many successful competitors , and it is not unusual for one of the team members to be named as a state champion .
This year , Abigail Lizotte ’ 25 competed for both teams . In one tournament , she would participate as a debater , and in the next tournament , she would compete with the Speech Team .
“ My choice to join the Debate Team was a little scarier than the speech team . I had no idea what I was getting into , but I wanted to learn how to use my words and successfully comprehend people ,” Lizotte said . That she did . Lizotte routinely won in both speech and debate and is now looking forward to the state competition and competing in person next year .
One common sentiment expressed by team members , in both speech and debate , is about the camaraderie they feel toward each other and the way their creative abilities have changed and improved . “ I really have changed my approach to writing and speaking in general ,” Gluck said . “ I know that just saying the words won ’ t be enough .”
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The Speech and Debate Teams may compete in multiple categories . In debate , students choose to compete in either Public Forum debate ( current issues and events ), Lincoln-Douglas debate ( modeled after the debates held by Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas ), or Congressional debate ( modeled after the U . S . Congress ).
In speech , students choose a particular category to perform , and there are 13 categories at each tournament . These categories range from the dramatic to humorous , from
Story by David Arenstam · Photos courtesy of David Arenstam
Debate Team : Left to Right : Coach Ben Grasso , Rachael Fox , Cole Cochrane , Coach Susan Biggs