Speech and Debate Team Off To Fast Start At Local and National Tournaments

The 2016-2017 Speech and Debate season is well underway. This year, under new head coach Mike McCabe '08, the team is off to a fast start competing at both local Philadelphia Catholic League tournaments and national invitational tournaments.

In September and October, 9 different Explorers attended the Georgetown Day Hopper Invitational and the New York City Invitational hosted by the Bronx High School of Science. Highlighted was team president, Ben Fedgechin '17, breaking to the semifinal round at the NYC Invitational.

More recently, twelve members attended two major national tournaments the weekend before Thanksgiving. Traveling to Chicago for the Glenbrook's Invitational were team president and vice president, Ben Fedgechin '17 and Patrick Kelly '18, along with Policy Debaters Bill Oxenford '17, John Santoro '18, Jack Martin '18, and Ian Mattson '19. Ben and Pat competed in a highly competitive Original Oratory field, featuring 144 speakers. Highlights include Jack and Ian placing 7^th in Junior Varsity Policy Debate – a round robin competition featuring 32 teams from around the country. Martin and Mattson finished with an 11-3 ballot count in seven rounds of competition.

Locally, Brian Mischler '17, Desmond Young '18, Aidan Young '18, Martin Csongradi '18, Chris Tomlinson '17, and Zach Quinn '18 attended the Villiger Invitational at Saint Joe's University. This tournament draws schools from up and down the East Coast. Junior Desmond Young saw a semi-final run in Original Oratory, rounding out a great showing across two tournaments.

Before a short break in the season over the Christmas Holiday, eight explorers will be traveling to the Patriot Games Classic hosted by George Mason University the weekend of December 3^rd, before the team hosts the La Salle Forum Invitational on December 10^th, in which approximately 500 competitors, coaches, and judges will be on campus at La Salle.