Speech & Debate

 

Speech & Debate Club meetings are held on Tuesdays during lunch in C210 with Mrs. Campbell. Bring lunch and get involved.

For questions and information please call Mrs. Campbell at 541-842-1438.   

 

 

The Speech and Debate team just finished up the 2nd part of the National Qualifying Tournament, and they rocked!  We will be sending 5 students to the National Tournament!

The National Speech and Debate Tournament is the largest academic tournament in the world and lasts for a week in June. This year it takes place in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Please congratulate the following students for qualifying for Nationals:

• Emma Empol- Congressional Debate
• Dean Jackman- Humorous Interpretation
• Coi Holloway & Dean Jackman- Duo Interpretation
• Dominic Adams- Big Questions Debate
• Carson Bennett- World Schools Debate

Our students also earned:

• Coi Holloway- Outstanding Chair (Congressional Debate)
• Carson Bennett- Outstanding Chair (Congressional Debate)
• South Oregon District Cumulative Trophy Points Award
• 2nd Place in Congress Sweepstakes
• 5th Place in Speech Sweepstakes

 

The Speech and Debate team just hosted the State Qualifying Tournament this past weekend and had great success!  Thank you to Stacy Carle, Robyn Kondziela, and Angel Garcia for their help in judging. A shout out to Kalin Cross for her help and support throughout both days!

We also had the first part of the National Qualifying Tournament on March 3^rd.  We competed in Student Congress and Big Questions debate, and will compete in the rest of the events this weekend at the University of Oregon.  A huge thanks to Matthew Parker for judging Congress!

Please congratulate the following students:

State Qualifying Tournament

Qualifiers:

• Parliamentary Debate- Qualifier- Coi Holloway & Carson Bennett
• Dramatic Interpretation- Qualifier- Abby Whitt
• Duo Interpretation- Qualifier- Coi Holloway & Dean Jackman
• Expository- Qualifier- Emma Empol
• Humorous Interpretation- Qualifier- Dean Jackman
• Radio Commentary- Qualifier- Dominic Adams
• Congress- Qualifier- Coi Holloway
• Congress- Qualifier- Carson Bennett
• Congress- Qualifier- Emma Empol

Alternates:

• Lincoln Douglas Debate- 1st Alternate- Owen Akiyama
• Poetry- 1st Alternate- Coi Holloway
• Radio Commentary- 1st Alternate- Delaney Murray
• After Dinner Speaking- 1st Alternate- Delaney Murray
• Public Forum- 2nd Alternate- Dominic Adams & Cristien Hernandez
• Impromptu- 2nd Alternate- Emma Empol
• Prose- 2nd Alternate- Pimnicha Praneetpolgrang
• Poetry- 2nd Alternate- Kaden Miller
• Radio Commentary- 2nd Alternate- Jessi McPhilomy

National Qualifying Tournament- Part 1

• Emma Empol- Student Congress- 1^st Place- Going to Nationals!
• Dominic Adams- Big Questions Debate- in the finals- one more round this weekend
• More to come!

 

 

The Speech and Debate team had two tournaments this month.  On February 7^th, we participated in our final preliminary Student Congress. The next step is our National Qualifier on March 3^rd!

We also had one of the most anticipated tournaments of the year--the Logan Will Ultimate Challenge--at Grants Pass High School this past weekend. We had two students who were Ultimate Challengers, competing in 7 events, which kept them running around the school the entire weekend.  A huge thanks to Matthew Parker for judging both days of the tournament.

Please congratulate the following students:

Logan Will Ultimate Challenge Tournament

• Coi Holloway- 1^st Place Poetry
• Dean Jackman- 1^st Place- Humorous Interpretation
• Coi Holloway & Dean Jackman - 2^nd Place- Duo Interpretation
• Dean Jackman- 2^nd Place- Ultimate Challenger
• Owen Akiyama & Dominic Adams- 2^nd Place- Big Questions Debate
• Clay Bennett- 3^rd Place- After Dinner Speaking
• Coi Holloway- 4^th Place- Oratory
• Dean Jackman- 4^th Place- Prose
• Coi Holloway- 4^th Place- Ultimate Challenger
• Dean Jackman & Dominic Adams- 5^th Place- Public Forum Debate
• Emma Empol- 5^th Place- Impromptu
• Emma Empol- 5^th Place- Expository
• Dean Jackman- 6^th Place- Informative
• Pimnicha Praneetpolgrang- Semi Finalist- Prose
• Dominic Adams- Semi Finalist- Radio Commentary
• Kaden Miller- Semi Finalist- Poetry 

Phoenix High School Student Congress

• Carson Bennett- 1^st Place
• Emma Empol- 2^nd Place
• Jerrihaun Robinson- 2^nd Place
• Coi Holloway- 3^rd Place

 

 

On January 19-20, five students traveled to Lewis & Clark College to compete on the Northern circuit. Then on the 27-28 they had a tournament at Illinois Valley High School. This team is on the move!

 

Lewis and Clark Invitational
• Emma Empol- 1st Place- Congress
• Carson Bennett- 2nd Place- Congress
• Dominic Adams- SemiFinalist- Radio Commentary and Impromptu

Illinois Valley Invitational
• Delaney Murray- 1st Place- After Dinner Speaking
• Delaney Murray- 1st Place- Poetry
• Dominic Adams- 1st Place- Lincoln Douglas Debate
• Dean Jackman- 1st Place- Humorous Interpretation
• Dominic Adams- 2nd Place- Radio Commentary
• Dominic Adams- 2nd Place- Impromptu
• Dean Jackman- 2nd Place- After Dinner Speaking
• Abby Whitt- 2nd Place- Dramatic Interpretation
• Violet Moissant- 3rd Place- After Dinner Speaking
• Gabe Ilten- 3rd Place- Prose

 

We are so proud of our students and it is truly a reflection of the hard work they put into their events and the hard work that ALL of the people at South put forth to help them learn and grow.

Please congratulate the following students:

North Valley Student Congress

• Carson Bennett- 1^st Place- Congress
• Brian Josephson- 2^nd Place- Congress
• Coi Holloway- 3^rd Place- Congress
• Emma Empol- 3^rd Place- Congress
• Cristien Hernandez- 4^th Place- Congress
• Dominic Adams- 5^th Place- Congress

North Medford Invitational

• Cristien Hernandez & Dominic Adams- 1^st Place- Public Forum Debate
• Dean Jackman- 1^st Place- Humorous Interpretation
• Abby Whitt- 1^st Place- Dramatic Interpretation
• Coi Holloway- 1^st Place- Poetry
• Dean Jackman- 1^st Place- Prose
• Delaney Murray- 1^st Place- After Dinner Speaking
• Delaney Murray- 1^st Place- Radio Commentary
• Emma Empol- 2^nd Place- Expository
• Coi Holloway- 2^nd Place- After Dinner Speaking
• Emma Empol & Carson Bennett- 2^nd Place- Parli Debate
• Coi Holloway/Carson Bennett & Owen Akiyama/Ian Grady- TIE- 2^nd Place- Big Questions Debate
• Delaney Murray- 3^rd Place- Poetry
• Dean Jackman- 3^rd Place- After Dinner Speaking
• Kaden Miller- 4^th Place- Poetry
• Kaden Miller- 4^th Place- Prose
• Jessi McPhilomy- 4^th Place- Radio Commentary
• Cristien Hernandez- 4^th Place- Oratory
• Gabe Ilten- 5^th Place- Prose
• Savanah Rutter- 5^th Place- After Dinner Speaking
• Delaney Murray- 6^th Place- Impromptu
• Olivia Vogt- 6^th Place- Radio Commentary

 

 

 

On Wednesday, 12/6, the SMHS Speech and Debate team hosted students from all over the Rogue Valley in a monthly Student Congress. Our students performed extremely well!  Out of 4 rooms, our students took most of the awards!  We want to thank Mr. Parker and Mr. Cynar for volunteering to judge!
Please congratulate the following students:
• Coi Holloway- 1st Place
• Dean Jackman- 1st Place
• Emma Empol- 1st Place
• Brian Josephson- 2nd Place
• Jacob Ilten- 2nd Place
• Jerrihaun Robinson 2nd Place
• Carson Bennett- 3rd Place
• Clay Bennett- 3rd Place

Additionally, on Saturday, 12/9, we took a small group to compete at the Crater Debate Tournament.  Our students entered 3 events and they won all 3! Shout out to Mr. Parker for judging at this event, too!
Please congratulate the following students:
• Emma Empol- 1st Place- Student Congress
• Coi Holloway & Carson Bennett- 1st Place- Parliamentary Debate
• Cristien Hernandez & Dominic Adams- 1st Place- Public Forum Debate

November 2017: Speech & Debate Results

 

The Speech and Debate team had another busy week!  We had a two day Invitational at Ashland High School this past weekend (11/4 & 11/5). A huge thank you to Matthew Parker, Elizabeth Shea, Sheri Smith, and Paul Cynar, who volunteered to judge at this tournament!

Please congratulate the following students:

• Emma Empol- 1st Place- Congress
• Dean Jackman- 1st Place- Varsity After Dinner Speaking
• Dean Jackman- 1st Place- Varsity Humorous Interpretation
• Delaney Murray- 2nd Place- Varsity After Dinner Speaking
• Carson Bennett- 3rd Place- Congress
• Carson Bennett- 3rd Place- Varsity Impromptu
• Delaney Murray- 3rd Place-Varsity Poetry
• Dominic Adams- 3rd Place-Varsity Radio Commentary
• Delaney Murray- Finalist Varsity Oratory
• Owen Akiyama- 1st Place- Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate
• Abby Whitt- Top Novice Dramatic Interpretation
• Abby Whitt- 2nd Place- Novice Prose

 

Additionally, last Wednesday, 11/1, we also competed in a Student Congress at North Medford.  Out of three rooms, our students won the following awards:

• Coi Holloway- 1^st Place
• Cristien Hernandez- 1^st Place
• Clay Bennett- 3^rd Place
• Carson Bennett- 4^th Place
• Gabriel Buckingham- 4^th Place
• Emma Empol- 5^th Place

  

October 2017: Speech & Debate Results 

The Speech & Debate team had a very busy week with three different competitions! Mrs. Campbell & Mr. Parker took 12 students and traveled to the South Coast Invitational at Marshfield High School this past weekend. They represented South well!

Please congratulate the following students:
• Delaney Murray- 1st- ADS
• Delaney Murrary- 2nd Poetry
• Delaney Murray- 2nd Impromptu
• Dean Jackman- 2nd Place- Humorous Interpretation
• Dominic Adams- 3rd Place- Impromptu
• Dominic Adams- Finalist- Radio
• Kaden Miller- 2nd Place- Prose
• Kaden Miller- Finalist- Poetry
• Coi Holloway- 3rd – Poetry
• Coi Holloway- 3rd- ADS
• Owen Akiyama- 1st Place- Novice Radio Commentary
• Owen Akiyama- 3rd Place- Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate
• Olivia Vogt- 3rd- Novice Radio Commentary
• Pimnicha Praneetpolgrang- Finalist- Novice Impromptu

 

 Last Wednesday, 10/4, they competed at their first Student Congress at Crater High School. Please congratulate the following students:
• Emma Empol- 1st Place
• Coi Holloway- 2nd Place
• Carson Bennett- 3rd Place
• Clay Bennett- 3rd Place
• Dominic Adams- 4th Place
• Cristien Hernandez- 4th Place

 

One week ago, on Saturday, 10/1, we took new debaters to the Ashland Novice Grand Prix.  Our novice debaters got some great experience! 
• Jadon Ashland & Ian Grady- 1st Place- Public Forum Debate

 

April 22: Speech & Debate Results

This past weekend, five students from SMHS qualified to compete at the National Speech & Debate Tournament in Birmingham, Alabama this June. Our students were amazing representatvies of our school. Because of their overall success, South Medford won the 1st Place Sweepstakes Award in Student Congress. Please congratulate the following students on their accomplishments:

Coi Holloway & Dean Jackman- Duo Interpretation
Steven Richmond- Student Congress, House 1
Carson Bennett- Student Congress, House 2
Avery Jesmer- World Schools Debate

Coi also qualified in Studnet Congress & as a finalist in Impromptu and received Outstanding Presiding Officer in Congress. Dean was a finalist in Humorous Interpretation and Steven was a semi-finalist in Oratory. 

 

This past weekend, a small group from the Speech and Debate team competed in the first part of the National Qualifying Tournament—Student Congress.  Our students were so impressive that they all placed within the top 6 in their rooms. 

Please congratulate the following students on their success:
• Coi Holloway: National Qualifier- Senate
• Carson Bennett: 2nd place (1st alternate)- House 2
• Emma Empol: 3rd place (2nd alternate)- House 2
• Steven Richmond: 3rd place (2nd alternate)- House 1
• Dean Jackman: 6th place (5th alternate)- House 1

The second part of the National Qualifying Tournament will be March 17-18 at University of Oregon. I’ll keep you posted on the outcome!  I also try to update on Twitter during the tournament.
 

 

The Speech and Debate team competed in another tournament this past weekend at Grants Pass High School.  This was the largest tournament we’ve competed in all year, with 18 schools competing.
Please congratulate the following students:

• Delaney Murray- 3rd Place After Dinner Speaking
• Coi Holloway- 3rd Place- Poetry
• Kaden Miller & Clay Bennett- 4th Place- Big Questions Debate
• Avery Jesmer- 5th Place- Impromptu
• Kaden Miller- 5th Place- Prose
• Cristien Hernandez- 6th Place- Oratory
• Avery Jesmer- 7th Place- Lincoln Douglas Debate
• Carson Bennett- 7th Place- Oratory
• Steven Richmond- Finalist- Radio Commentary
• Alex Spangler- Semifinalist- Poetry
• Coi Holloway- Semifinalist- Radio Commentary

 

 

  

 

January 30, 2017 

The Speech and Debate Team earned Charter Status in the National Speech and Debate Association, which is the highest school membership honor within the organization. According to the National Speech and Debate Association, “Charter status is earned by demonstrating excellence in attaining new members and degrees over the last three years.  Earning a charter is a remarkable achievement, placing a program among the best and most stable in the nation.” 

 

 

The Speech & Debate team competed in another tournament this past weekend at Ashland High School. As a school, we earned the 3rd place trophy in Sweepstakes points, and many of our students broke to finals and placed.

 

 

  

 

2015-2016  News 

Congratulations to Cori Holloway, Micaela Levesque and Avery Jesmer! These students have qualified for the National Speech and Debate Tournament in Salt Lake City. Way to go Panthers!