On May 21, eleven Milton Academy Speech and Debate team members and three chaperones boarded a flight to Washington, D.C., for the National Catholic Forensic League (NCFL) tournament, which brings qualifying speech and debate competitors from across the country.
Team members and coaches held different responsibilities in preparing for the tournament. On the faculty end, Performing Arts Faculty and Coach Lindsay Donovan identified “transportation, lodging, confirming tournament registration, and stipulations” as main concerns in her planning process, which began in late February. For student competitors, preparation began after March break at the weekly Thursday Speech and Debate practices as well as at the weekly one-on-one coaching sessions. Depending on their event, students also practiced different skills outside of school. Ellie O’Connor ’29, who competes in Declamation, where she performs a ten-minute memorized speech, practiced “breaking simple sentences down to uncover their meaning and how [she] wants to convey messages to the audience.” Lyra Dvorin ’28, who competes in Extemporaneous speaking, a fast-moving current events speech, stated that “keeping up to date on the news and running practice speeches” has been her main preparation.
While speech competitors focus on performance and delivery, debate events require students to think quickly, respond under pressure, and build persuasive arguments in real time. Laura Meli ’28, who competes in Congressional Debate, prepared for the tournament by “researching the legislation included in the NCFL docket and staying up to date on current events related to the topics [she] may debate.” Meli highlighted the importance of Thursday practices when she said that the opportunity to “practice speaking in front of our coaches and teammates” allows her to receive valuable feedback.
Student competitors eagerly and nervously awaited NCFLs. Prior to the competition, Harper Simoneau ’29 believed that the team members were “going to have a great time.” However, she described competing on a national level for the first time as “a little stressful [and] a little nerve-racking." For Davey Glazer ’28, the pressure felt especially personal. He stated that by competing on the national stage as a queer male, “[he is] not only representing [himself] but also the whole queer community.”
Students used a variety of methods to remain composed when competing on the national level. Adam Amin ’27 reminded himself of his mother’s advice “to present [his speech] like a gift…People in your room are waiting for what you have to say, so have a conversation with them and share with them.” Iyore Ip ’29 takes a more personal and experience-based approach to managing stress.
Ip follows a motto written in her speech binder, saying to “treat every round like an audition.” This motto motivates Ip because of her passion for performing arts outside of speech. She said, “in an audition, all you have to do is be passionate about the material and have fun. Preparation and confidence usually come alongside that for me.”
Students cited their love for the team and the relationships that they have developed through the program as motivating factors. The team’s connectedness motivates O’Connor, whereas Glazer appreciates meeting new people from other schools and having his closest friends on the team. Meli believes that “the way people consistently show up for one another, whether celebrating successes or offering support during difficult moments, is a true reflection of what this team stands for.”
For students competing on a national stage, the experience is the culmination of months of preparation, personal growth, and shared support within the team. NCFLs is not only a test of skill, but also a reminder of the confidence and community that speech and debate has fostered along the way.