Speech and Debate Team Off To Another Great Start

The La Salle College High School Speech and Debate Team is off to another fast start for the 2018-19 school year. On October 12^th - 14^th the team traveled to the New York City Invitational at the Bronx High School of Science. Team President JV Fluehr '19 placed 4^th in Humorous Interpretation. JV performed a ten-minute cutting of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. In total, 153 schools from 27 states competed at the New York City Invitational. Also having competed at the NYC Invitational were Patrick Calhoun '20, Tyler Wood '20, JC Magee '19, Matt Corso '20, Sam Grosser '20, Dan Habboush '19, and Dan Quigley '20.

On November 17^th and 18^th, the team competed at the 39^th Villiger Invitational at St. Joseph's University. Tyler Wood was the tournament champion in Lincoln Douglas Debate, finishing with an overall record of 7-1 defeating his final round opponent from Woodrow Wilson High School (DC). Tyler, and his teammates Thomas Davidson '21 and Alex Sorgini '22 debated both sides of Resolved: In a democracy, the public's right to know ought to be valued above the right to privacy of candidates for public office. Emmet Young '21 advanced to elimination rounds at his first varsity invitational in Extemporaneous Speaking. Also competing at the Villiger Invitational were Connor Mangan '21, Alex Wu '21, Sam Grosser, and Dan Quigley.

With this exciting start, the National Speech and Debate Association recognized the Team with several accolades. JV Fluehr received the status of Academic All-American based upon reaching 750 competition points and carrying a GPA over a 3.7. Based on continued success, the team earned 18 degrees of honor from the NSDA—including JV Fluehr's Superior Distinction (750 points) and Patrick Calhoun's Special Distinction (500). Ten new members earned their degree of merit (25 points), which is the highest number of new members to earn that status this early in the year over the last four years.

The team will travel to George Mason University on November 29^th – December 2^nd for the annual Patriot Games Classic Invitational before hosting the La Salle Forum Invitational on December 8^th.