The Fair Grove High School Speech and Debate team had their first tournament on October 24th and 25th at Willard High School. The team participates in 7 out of 10 invitational tournaments each year along with districts, states, and nationals.
Leroy Barker, Speech and Debate and Theatre Director, is serving his fourth year as Head Coach. Previously, he was the Assistant Coach at Hillcrest for a year and helped coach Strafford in their first win of the 2019-2020 season. Barker stated, “Probably the best thing coaching Speech and Debate is seeing the students support each other as a team.”
Barker helps train students in different events. There are several different types of events students participate in including poetry, storytelling, original oratory, debate, and more. Those that excel in certain events are able to assume leadership roles and become mentors to other students hoping to pursue success in the same event category.
At tournaments students go to their different events and compete against others performing in that event. Their performances are then judged and if they score low enough in the first two rounds they make it to finals. Since students are performing individually they might compete against others from the same school.
Barker remarked, “Tournament managers work to avoid scheduling teammates against each other until you get into semi-finals and finals. There have been times when half of the students in a finals round were from our team.”
Leadership positions on the team include what is known as the “cabinet.” Current members of the cabinet include President Preston Hicks (12), Secretary Savanna Odom (11), Treasurer June Chumbley (12), and Publicity Alyssa Faubion (12).Â
Cabinet members help to mentor younger students and have specific responsibilities in their roles that help keep the team balanced out. Hicks commented, “…I have to watch over the team, keep an uplifting attitude, and help my team perform well.”
Members work hard on their pieces, dedicating as much time as possible to practice for performances including in class second hour. Some students are involved in other activities or sports causing it to be difficult to find practice time outside of class. Hicks noted, “We try to practice everyday in class and that usually requires binders, your duo partner, blocking, or memorization.”
According to Barker, last year the team qualified for state in three events: prose, informative speaking, and dramatic interpretation. In previous years they’ve also qualified for nationals, competing to be in finals against students across the nation. Barker said the team hopes to have four MSHSAA state qualifying events and at least one NSDA national qualifier this year.Â
Barker added, “This year we are expecting to host MSHAA Districts as well and are really looking forward to that. It is a great opportunity for a small school like us to show off our capabilities.”
The Speech and Debate team is preparing for their next tournament at Marion C. Early High School on November 15th.
