Students on the Marshfield High School speech and debate team are getting ready for a pretty big trip after months of competition across the state.
Coach Chasity Hance said the team has competed in nearly 15 tournaments since October, leading to several students qualifying for national competition.
Six Marshfield students earned spots at the NCFL Grand National Tournament in Washington, D.C., happening Memorial Day weekend. What makes it even more impressive is that all six qualifiers are freshmen or sophomores.
Hance described speech and debate as “an academic track and field” because students compete in several different categories. Some write and deliver speeches. Others perform acting pieces using scripts or books. Debate students prepare arguments on complicated topics that many adults probably never spend much time thinking about.
This year, some Marshfield students debated issues involving Arctic policy and international development.
Now the focus shifts to nationals.
Hance said students spend hours practicing performances, recording speeches, and working with coaches and teammates for feedback. Some students will also compete again in June at another national tournament hosted by the National Speech and Debate Association.
The team regularly shares updates and results through its social media pages as the season continues.
