MacArthur’s Speech and Debate team score first overall

Winning first place at the third Speech and Debate tournament this year, MacArthur sets our eyes on the May competition to determine who travels to Alabama.

March 11, 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, and Advanced Learning Academy.   

MacArthur scored first place overall.

The MacArthur team debated the topic, “Should the US invest more in its military?” against all other present schools.  For the next tournament, the team will debate “Should the US change the electoral college to popular vote?”

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.  

Speech Coach Mrs. Sue Whitmire said, “I am absolutely thrilled about the competition’s results.  I am proud of the advances we did.  Our goals for the next competition are to coach students to become first or second in their category and win a trip to Nationals in Birmingham, Alabama.”  

In debate, eighth graders Christie Nguyen and Kaitlyn Vu won first place undefeated for the fourth time in a row.  In debate, seventh-graders Benjamin P. Le and Tyson Ma advanced to semifinals, eighth-graders Jonah Tristan and Brendan Mai Ha earned third place, and Scott Nguy and Daniel Sevilla earned second place.

In Oratorical Declamation, seventh grader Gary Ebat earned third place. In Duo Interpretation, sixth graders, Valeria Franco, Kimberly Sanchez, Evelyn Santos, Kaylie Soberano advanced to semifinals.  Seventh graders Aryani Juarez, and an additional member advanced to semifinals.  In poetry interpretation, eighth grader Rebecca Guerrero advanced to semifinals.  One seventh grade Original Oratory participant won first place for the second time.  Competing for his first time, sixth grader Gordon Tran won first place.  

Sixth grader, Isabella Melgoza said, “The changes I made since the beginning of the year were my partner and I increased the length, worked on memorization, added more movement.  For the next tournament, I plan to work on memorization, and eye contact.”

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.