The Speech and Debate program at Cathedral has been a vital part of student success for many individuals. With a hallway adorned with awards near the math resource center, the program has provided students with opportunities to enhance their critical thinking and communication skills. Under the guidance of Jeanne Malone, the moderator of the Speech and Debate team, along with fellow team members and supporters, the Cathedral Speech and Debate team has had a successful year.

Notably, two students will continue their journey to Nationals: Junior  Bailey Brownlow and Senior Sophia Beeson, who qualified during their recent meet last Saturday. 

In Speech, there are a total of 15 individual events, while Debate has five. Brownlow competes in the Original Oratory event, which involves a 7-10 minute memorized persuasive speech presented in each round of competition. Titled “Representation is Power,” her Original Oratory advocates for increased representation of Black women in the media.

Beeson participates in Extemporaneous Speaking, where she has 30 minutes to prepare responses to current event questions and speak for seven minutes without notes. Throughout the week, they prepare for their Saturday tournaments, which consist of four rounds, with each student competing in their event, and some even participating in two events at a meet.

Currently, the Cathedral team is in what they call the high stakes part of the season, where they are beginning to reach the finish line. They enter two big tournaments: State and Nationals, which take place over multiple weekends. The National tournament begins with districts, where the top two finishers in each event qualify for Nationals. Bronlow and Beeson secured their spots last Saturday for Nationals.

Coach Malone said, “It’s been so much fun to watch them develop their speaking skills starting from their freshman year. Both of them in the past used to be extremely fast speakers and now they’ve matured so well.”

The most significant challenge Brownlow faced while preparing for Saturday’s competition was managing her anxiety. The district meet, already a major event, was heightened by the fact that only the top two competitors in each event qualify for Nationals. Struggling with pre-meet nervousness, Brownlow reminded herself to trust in her skills and performance abilities. Fortunately, she found comfort in the fact that her speech addresses a topic she feels passionate about, which is tied closely to her personal experiences.

When she learned that she qualified for Nationals, she was in disbelief. She said, “It was such a surreal feeling. All the energy, passion and spirit I invested in Speech and Debate, especially in my Original Oratory speech, had paid off in the end.”

Senior Sophia Beeson was equally as shocked when she found out she had also qualified for Nationals. Beeson recalled that her junior season wasn’t her best, as she didn’t reach the final round that year. However, she managed to achieve that milestone this year, saying, “It’s the first time I’ve been in the final round. I’ve put in a lot of work this year, and to see that I will be recognized especially as a senior is amazing.”

Malone encourages students to join Speech and Debate in the upcoming school year. She said, “It’s an opportunity to polish and develop a skill you’ll  use throughout your life. No matter what job you have, professionally, with your family, friends, or neighbors, good communication is paramount. Here, students learn to advocate for those who can’t advocate for themselves.”