Speech and Debate is one of the many successful clubs at Trinity High School. Once again, the team has made States! The Speech and Debate club is among the most consistent at the high school, featuring experienced upperclassmen and well-prepared underclassmen.
Junior Lily Hoy has been on the team for all three years of her high school career and has always excelled in the speech category.
Hoy comments on her excitement about attending States this year: “I’m mostly excited. I’ve gone the last two years, so there are no nerves, but I was nervous my first year.”
Nerves play a stressful role in everyday life, for some more than others. Despite this, some have little nerves for their first time.
First-year speech and debate club member Issac Copechal says, “I am excited, but I’m only excited because I’m going to States, mainly because I get to go somewhere else but I’m nervous about the speech portion.”
Many people have role models who help them with what they do, whether that’s a parent, teacher or sibling. The team dynamic is expressed as friendly and always displays amazing support and teamwork skills.
For first-year students such as Copechal, it is the older students: “Upperclassmen like Dakota Loyd and Katherine Drezewski are all extremely good at what they do and are helpful.”
Both Copechal and Hoy agree that Mrs. Berty’s coaching has been a tremendous help this year.
Hoy states, “She’s been very available and helpful and has always been there for us through the years.”
Coaching is an important part of any sport or club, and Berty fits the role.
Berty gives encouraging words to this year’s team on their progress: “Mr. Komula and I only want the students to be the best they can be. We have not seen our state competitors, who come from all over Pennsylvania. Many students compete in multi-day invitationals at universities such as Yale, George Washington and Harvard. We want our students to strive for their personal best.”
Berty also comments on the phenomenal dedication from members of the team: “This year’s team is fully involved in the school in multiple programs.”
This not only shows the hard work and effort students have put into this club and their tournaments, but also how it makes them successful and how success is one of the things that this team has seen all year long. At States, the Trinity team members did not place but were still recognized for their year-long success and achievements.
