Speech and Debate score third place at the second tournament

Competing for the second time this year, the speech and debate club placed third overall, with seven individual finalists.

December 3, from 7:00 AM through 4:30 PM at Santa Ana High School, 36 students represented MacArthur in the second speech and debate tournament consisting of five rounds.  The MacArthur representatives competed against various schools including Raymond A. Villa Fundamental Intermediate School, Spurgeon Intermediate School, Sierra Preparatory Academy, Willard Intermediate School, Mendez Fundamental Intermediate School, McFadden Intermediate School, and Lathrop Intermediate School.   

MacArthur scored third place overall.

The MacArthur team debated the same topic, “Should K-12 public schools monitor speech outside of school?” against all other present schools.  Additionally, the MacArthur speakers had the opportunity to select their topic from the seven categories including original oratory, poetry, duo-interpretation, dramatic-interpretation, oratorical declamation and perform their topic for other contestants and judges.  

In debate, eighth graders Christie Nguyen and Kaitlyn Vu won first place, undefeated three years in a row.  In debate, seventh-graders Benjamin P. Le and Tyson Ma went undefeated, eighth-graders Jonah Tristan and Brendan Mai Ha went undefeated, and seventh-graders Matthew Dinh and John Dinh captured second place in junior varsity.  Overall from the speech team, MacArthur had seven finalists and five semi finalists.  

In Oratorical Declamation, Ryan Garcia advanced to the semifinals and seventh-grader Gary Ebat won sixth place.  In Duo Interpretation, sixth graders, Bella Melgoza and Brooke Mai Hai, won sixth place in their first attempt.  Sixth graders Evelyn Santos and Kaylie Soberano won fifth place!  MacArthur’s highest scorers in speech were sixth-grader Ashley Lam in third place and one seventh-grade first place winner.

“I coached the speech team and Mr. Degree coached debate, we worked at lunch and after school.  I helped students write and find their scripts,” said Ms. Sue Whitmire.  Evidently, MacArthur’s coaches have taken every opportunity to make Macarthur’s speech and debate teams succeed.

“I joined speech because my mother, Angelica Avila, was in speech when she went to Macarthur,” said sixth-grader semifinalist Isabella Melgoza.  

The next tournament is expected to be on March third.  The final speech and debate tournament will take place in May and second and first place winners in their event will receive the opportunity to attend nationals in Birmingham, Alabama!

“I decided to join speech because I love to talk and express myself.  I practiced my speech in the mirror and memorized it.   If you join speech you will never regret it,” said sixth-grade semifinalist Roya Kingston.