On October 12, 2024 , MECA’s Speech and Debate team put their best foot forward at Gabrielino High School, securing spots in the finals. As freshman finalist Jocelyn Pena expresses, “It was my first time as a novice, and I felt like I was [both] excited and nervous.”

What happened

From the historical demonization of witches to improvisational pieces on financial literacy, each student on the team put their best foot forward, speaking with both confidence and clarity to deliver their points. For contenders such as Tara Phapornchai, competing in Varsity Original Oratory, Varsity exempt, and Varsity impromptu, rushing from each class was not ideal. However, for more specialized rounds, such as Jocelyn Pena in Novice informative, Annika Wotherspoon in Varsity informative, Adam Nguyen in Novice exempt, and Evan Barba in Varsity Humor, they were allowed more time to delve into their topics, participating in whichever event suited them best. 

For those in the informative events, it sounds exactly as the name implies, informing the audience on a certain topic, event, or idea with evidence and ideas stated clearly and professionally. Similarly, while competing in Varsity Original Oratory, the goal is to inform or persuade the judges on a specific topic of your choice. As for the more humorous speeches, they require a bit more acting and drama to engage with the comedic side of  speeches. However, with varsity/ novice exempt and impromptu, very little time is provided to the competitors, as they are required to write their speech on the spot, later doing their presentation on said speech. 

Regardless, many can agree that the stress and anxiety that grows between them can be quite a disadvantage, proving to be a daunting part of presenting. Despite this, they continue to push on, collecting their wits and steeling their nerves. But memorizing scripts isn’t just what Speech and Debate is about. 

Despite the fierce competition, those who participate are sure to find a place among the masses of competitors, whether they come from the same school or not. In any case, if you excel in multiple sections or just one, the Speech and Debate community is as kind as they are connected, taking the time to congratulate all who participated, strengthening the bonds that bring them together. Junior Adam Nguyen explains, “It’s not really competitive…there’s a sense of camaraderie with everyone… that helps make it feel easier.”

Deep down

Throughout the tournament, each competitor had their own moments of vulnerability, whether it was going up to speak for the very first time, or the painstaking wait to see who “broke” or rather, who was accepted into the next event. Tara Phapornchai, a Junior who participated in three events, illustrates the buildup of nerves during the final round and how, “you’re thinking [about] everything you did wrong, [and what] you did right”

Holding himself in a similar situation, sophomore Evan Barba has competed for around a year, taking on a more humorous approach towards his very own specialized event; Varsity humor. Despite being moved up towards a more experienced group, he continues to strive for greatness, admitting that,“ I did better than what I expected, [even though] I always uphold myself to a very high standard.”

For others, the experience is what matters. 

Having been in Speech and Debate for three years, senior Annika Wotherspoon has had the opportunity to watch her fellow teammates refine their techniques, along with her own. Going into her rounds, Annika adds, “I was just pumped up, I didn’t care if I placed, I didn’t care if I was the last speaker. I just wanted to have fun”

Highs and Lows

Just like any other competition, Speech and Debate has its own highs and lows, from making the finals to losing a round. Placed at the whim of the judges, competitors are assessed based on their abilities, while also being critiqued on every misstep and wrong move. 

Even so, the reward for weeks of hard work pays off in the long run. Jocelyn Pena, a freshman describes how, “in the end, all of that stress… pressure, and everything I put into my speech…was worth it.”

Still, for those given the chance, the upcoming trip to Chicago on November 21 is truly something to look forward to. With the amount of opportunities given to competitors, it’s no surprise why many can agree that despite the struggles, Speech and Debate can be incredibly rewarding in its own right. As Senior Annika Wotherspoon puts it,“Making those connections… even through we’re all competitors, at the end of the day, we’re all friends”

In brief, the work and effort put into making these victories possible was all thanks to the commitment of the competitors, pushing through each doubt and mistake, and coming out stronger.