Speech and Debate Team
Overview
The RRCA High School Speech and Debate Team was formed in 2008-2009 to provide a venue for students to compete in forensics competitions. The speech and debate tournament events that students compete in include speaking, reading, acting, and debate. RRCA competes in public and private school invitational tournaments from September onward in preparation for district and state competition for TAPPS and the NFL. RRCA has active membership in the National Forensic League, the speech and debate honor society for public and private schools. In the fall of 2010, our school was designated with Chapter status by the organization, the highest of four rankings a school can obtain.
The Speech and Debate Team is coached by Cathleen Ferose.
2018-2019 Highlights
Celtic Invitational, January 26, 2019
Crusaders took 2nd place overall in team sweepstakes at the 15th annual Celtic Invitational, a 4th-9th grade competition. Crusaders competed against 8 other schools in 13 categories.
Lincoln Douglas Debate: 6th place - Kiera Dixon
Record Mime: team of Douglas Chaiken/Becca Gillian
Duet Acting: team of Alex Chaiken/Douglas Chaiken
Group Improv: 2nd place - team of Noah Headley, Kaleigh Henderson, Rachel Millikan, 1st place - team of Sarah Benitz, Douglas Chaiken, Becca Gillian, and Roman Kemp
Solo Acting: 3rd place - Becca Gillian, 2nd place - Sarah Benitz
Poetry Interpretation: 3rd place - Sarah Benitz, 1st place - Douglas Chaiken
4th/5th grade Prose: 5th place - Arianna Jemal, 2nd place - Colin Russell
6th/7th grade Prose: 5th place - Noah Headley, 1st place - Mahlet Messay
Prose Interpretation: 5th place - Becca Gillian, 4th place - Douglas Chaiken, 1st place - Sarah Benitz
Bible Interpretation: 2nd place - Roman Kemp
Storytelling: 5th place - Kaleigh Henderson, 3rd place - Sarah Benitz, 1st place - Douglas Chaiken
Impromptu Speaking: 5th place - Douglas Chaiken
Soapbox Speaking: 6th place - Becca Gillian
Best Reader: Sarah Benitz
Best Actor: Becca Gillian
Best Overall Competitor: Douglas Chaiken
Results from Round Rock High School UIL tournament
Lincoln Douglas Debate: 1st place - Matthew Tweden
El Campo Tournament January 11-12, 2019
Novice Extemporaneous Speaking: 2nd place - Grant Brown
Varsity Extemporaneous Speaking: 1st place - Matthew Tweden
Novice Poetry Interpretation: 6th place - Sam Drell, 3rd place - Douglas Chaiken, 2nd place - Sarah Benitz
Varsity Poetry Interpretation: 8th place - Caitlin Lee, 6th place - Sophia Fernandez, 2nd place - Christian Gonzales
Group Improv: 2nd place - team of Micah Headley, Roman Kemp, Simon Kruger, 1st place - team of Christian Gonzales, Caleb Roark, Matthew Tweden
Impromptu Speaking: 8th place - Perry Williams, 6th place - Alex Chaiken, 1st place - Matthew Tweden
Humorous Interpretation: 6th place - Sarah Benitz, 5th place - Danny Tomlin, 4th place - Caleb Roark
Dramatic Interpretation: 6th place - Gracie McCormick, 3rd place - Christian Gonzales, 2nd place - Caitlin Lee, 1st place - Becca Gillian
Novice Prose Interpretation: 4th place - Kendall Weiss, 2nd place - Sarah Benitz
Varsity Prose Interpretation: 5th place - Sophia Fernandez
Reader's Theater: 5th place - team of Sarah Benitz, Micah Headley, Roman Kemp, Simon Kruger, Gracie McCormick, 4th place: team of Sophia Fernandez, Becca Gillian, Christian Gonzales, Caitlin Lee, and Caleb Roark, 3rd place: team of Alex Chaiken, Douglas Chaiken, Sam Drell, and Danny Tomlin
Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate: Semifinalist - Elizabeth Randolph, 1st place - Grant Brown
Varsity Lincoln Douglas Debate: Quarterfinalist - Perry Williams, Semifinalist - Matthew Tweden
Record Mime: 2nd place - team of Sarah Benitz, Caitlin Lee, and Gracie McCormick, 1st place - team of Becca Gillian, Christian Gonzales, and Caleb Roark
Bible Reading: 6th place - Roman Kemp, 5th place - Mia Kemp, 4th place - Kendall Weiss, 3rd place - Danny Tomlin, 1st place - Douglas Chaiken
Auditioning: 2nd place - Christian Gonzales
Oratory: 4th place - Sophia Fernandez, 2nd place - Perry Williams, 1st place - Matthew Tweden
Soapbox Speaking: 4th place - Christian Gonzales, 1st place - Caleb Roark
Storytelling: 3rd place - Caleb Roark, 2nd place - Danny Tomlin, 1st place - Alex Chaiken
Duet Acting: 4th place - Alex Chaiken/Douglas Chaiken, 3rd place - Becca Gillian/Christian Gonzales, 2nd place - Sophia Fernandez/Caitlin Lee
Best Novice: Grant Brown
Best Actor: Christian Gonzales
Best All Around: Matthew Tweden
TFA Tournament at San Marcos High School, November 30-December 1, 2018
RRCA competed in a great two days of competition with 40 schools competing.
Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate - Quarterfinalist - Elizabeth Randolph, Semifinalist - Grant Brown
Varsity Lincoln Douglas Debate - Octafinalist - Matthew Tweden
Congress - 5th place - Matthew Tweden
Foreign Extemporaneous Speaking - 6th place - Matthew Tweden
Informative Speaking - 6th place - Alex Chaiken
Duo Interpretation - 5th place - team of Caitlin Lee/Sophia Fernandez
Prose Interpretation - 5th place - Christian Gonzales, 4th place - Kendall Weiss, 3rd place - Sarah Benitz
Poetry Interpretation - 6th place - Roman Kemp
NSDA Yellow Rose District sponsored Capital Congress in Austin, November 29, 2018
Trinity Classic Speech Tournament, October 27, 2018
Congratulations to Crusader Speech & Debate for winning team sweepstakes in a close race for top honors at the 14th Annual Trinity Classic Speech and Debate Tournament at Holy Trinity Catholic High School in Temple over the weekend.
Crusaders competed against 11 other schools, both public and private, in 13 different debate, speaking, and acting events. Congratulations goes to junior Christian Gonzales who was named Best Actor. Best All Around competitor went to sophomore Matthew Tweden, who wrapped up the day's competition with a decisive 3-0 decision in his 6th and final round of Lincoln Douglas debate, after placing in several other events.
Crusaders finished the day with 250 points against NSDA district rival THEO with 239. Coach Cathleen Ferose noted that they were at a disadvantage going into the tournament, with 20 fewer entries. "It was a battle through every event to the final round. Not only is THEO strong, but schools like Concordia, Savio, and CTCS are getting more competitive. We can't take anything for granted."
Lincoln Douglas Debate: Quarterfinalist - Rebecca Rasmussen, 1st place - Matthew Tweden
Congressional Debate: 4th place - Matthew Tweden
Soapbox Speaking: 4th place - Caleb Roark, 1st place - Christian Gonzales
Prose Interpretation: 2nd place - Caleb Roark
Poetry Interpretation: 6th place - Douglas Chaiken, 3rd place - Alex Chaiken, 2nd place - Sarah Benitz
Bible Reading: 5th place - Grace Wu,3rd place - Alex Chaiken,1st place - Allie Cermak
Extemporaneous Speaking: 1st place - Matthew Tweden
Oratory: 3rd place - Matthew Tweden
Impromptu Speaking: 1st place - Matthew Tweden
Solo Acting: 5th place - Christian Gonzales, 3rd place - Becca Gillian, 1st place - Caitlin Lee
Duet Acting: 7th place - team of Sam Drell/Danny Tomlin,4th place - team of Sophia Fernandez/Caitlin Lee, 3rd place - team of Caleb Roark/Morgan Whitley, 2nd place - team of Becca Gillian/Christian Gonzales
Duo Improv: 4th place - team of Alex Chaiken/Douglas Chaiken, 2nd place - team of Caleb Roark/Morgan Whitley, 1st place - team of Christian Gonzales/Matthew Tweden
Hurricane Debate Tournament, September 8, 2018
Congratulations to the Speech & Debate team for their success at the Hurricane Debate Tournament at Holy Trinity Catholic High School in Temple. Crusaders competed against students from China Springs HS, Concordia HS, Holy Trinity CHS, and StoneGate Christian School in 5 events. These are the results:
Impromptu Speaking:
5th place - Perry Williams, 4th place - Christian Gonzales, 1st place - Matthew Tweden
Extemporaneous Debate:
5th place - Christian Gonzales, 3rd place - Matthew Tweden
Public Forum Debate:
5th place - team of Alex Chaiken/Douglas Chaiken, 3rd place - team of Grant Brown/Sam Drell, 1st place - team of Christian Gonzales/Matthew Tweden
Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate:
4th place - Douglas Chaiken, 1st place - Grant Brown
Varsity Lincoln Douglas Debate:
4th place - Perry Williams, 2nd place - Alex Chaiken, 1st place - Matthew Tweden
2017-2018 Highlights
TAPPS Speech State Competition, April 9-11, 2018
Congratulations to the TAPPS Speech Team for being named State Champions!
Lincoln Douglas Debate: 5th place (tie) – Jenna Kim, 3rd place (tie) – Christian Gonzales, 2nd place – Matthew Tweden
Persuasive Speaking: 4th place – Christian Gonzales, 1st place – Matthew Tweden
Oratory: 7th place – Morgan Whitley, 5th place – Matthew Tweden
Prose Interpretation: 8th place – Morgan Whitley, 6th place – Caitlin Lee
Poetry Interpretation: 6th place – Sophia Fernandez, 1st place – Sophia Berg
Solo Acting: 6th place – Caitlin Lee, 1st place – Sophia Berg
Duet Acting: 1st place – team of Sophia Berg and Caleb Roark
Special Congratulations:
Matthew Tweden – Top Speaker in Lincoln Douglas Debate
Sophia Berg – Top competitor in Speech events
Elementary Speech Meet, April 6, 2018
Congratulations to competitors at the ACSI Elementary Speech Meet at Central Texas Christian Schools. There were 4 schools competing in events 1st-6th grades. Here are the results:
1st grade Poetry: 1st place, Superior Rating – Tobe Esomeju
1st grade Bible Memorization: Excellent rating – Asher Asiedu
3rd grade Bible Memorization: Excellent rating – Ellyn Seib
3rd grade Poetry: Good rating – Gauri Babbar
4th grade Bible Memorization: 1st place, Superior Rating – Patrick Asiedu
4th grade Fables and Folklore: Good rating – Andrew Balid
4th grade Fables and Folklore: Excellent rating – Arianna Jemal
5th grade Bible Memorization: Good rating – Krishna Yeada
6th grade Patriotic Oration: 1st place, Superior rating – Mahlet Messay
Shamrock Tournament, March 23-24, 2018
Congratulations to the Speech & Debate team who competed on Friday and Saturday at the Shamrock Tournament. Here are the results:
Prose: 7th place – Micah Headley
Prose: 8th place – Danny Tomlin
Solo Acting: 4th place – Danny Tomlin
LD: 2nd place and Top Speaker – Matthew Tweden
Oratory: 2nd place – Matthew Tweden
Extemporaneous Speaking: 7th place – Jenna Kim, 1st place – Matthew Tweden
Celtic Invitational, January 27, 2018
Congratulations to the RRCA speech and debate competitors for 1st place Team Sweepstakes at the 14th Annual Celtic Invitational at Holy Trinity Catholic High School in Temple. Ten schools competed in 13 speaking, debating, and acting events for grades 4th-9th.
Lincoln Douglas Debate: 4th place - Max Chhabra, 3rd place - Kiera Dixon, 2nd place - Grant Brown, and 1st place - Matthew Tweden.
Solo Acting: 6th place - Douglas Chaiken, 5th place - Sarah Benitz
Prose Interpretation: 6th place - Douglas Chaiken, 4th place - Kiera Dixon, 3rd place - Sarah Benitz
4th-5th grade Poetry: 4th place - Arianna Jemal, 1st place - Colin Russell
6th-7th grade Poetry: 6th place - Rachel Millikan, 4th place - Kiera Dixon, 3rd place - Mahlet Messay
Poetry: 5th place - Sarah Benitz, 2nd place - Douglas Chaiken
4th-5th grade Storytelling: 2nd place - Colin Russell
Storytelling: 6th place - Rachel Millikan, 2nd place - Sarah Benitz
Impromptu Speaking: 1st place - Matthew Tweden
Oratory: 1st place - Matthew Tweden
Bible Reading: 5th place - Douglas Chaiken, 4th place - Micah Headley, 2nd place - Jerell Isaac, 1st place - Matthew Tweden
Group Improv: 1st place - team of Matthew Tweden, Micah Headley, and Douglas Chaiken
Best Speaker of the Tournament: Matthew Tweden
Thank you to the following students who volunteered their time to serve at the tournament: Alex Chaiken, Christian Gonzales, Sophia Fernandez, Caitlin Lee, Caleb Roark, Morgan Whitley, and Perry Williams
El Campo, January 12-13, 2018
RRCA won Grand Sweepstakes at the El Campo High School Speech & Debate Tournament.
Bible Reading: 6th place - Caleb Roark, 5th place - Micah Headley, 4th place - Sophia Fernandez, 3rd place - Christian Gonzales, 2nd place - Danny Tomlin, 1st place - Sophia Berg
Varsity Lincoln Douglas Debate: Quarterfinalist - Perry Williams
Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate: 1st place - Matthew Tweden
Novice Prose Interpretation: 2nd place - Caitlin Lee, 1st place - Micah Headley
Senior Prose Interpretation: 4th place - Alex Chaiken
Novice Poetry Interpretation: 6th place - Caitlin Lee, 1st place - Micah Headley
Senior Prose Interpretation: 3rd place - Sophia Fernandez
Humorous Interpretation: 1st place - Sophia Berg
Dramatic Interpretation: 2nd place - Morgan Whitley, 1st place - Caitlin Lee
Auditioning: 6th place - Morgan Whitley, 3rd place - Christian Gonzales, 2nd place - Sophia Berg
Storytelling: 2nd place - Alex Chaiken, 1st place - Sophia Berg
Duet Acting: 4th place - Alex Chaiken/Danny Tomlin, 2nd place - Sophia Berg/Caleb Roark
Novice Extemporaneous Speaking: 1st place - Matthew Tweden, 6th place – Hannah Vo
Impromptu Speaking: 5th place - Alex Chaiken, 4th place - Christian Gonzales, 3rd place - Matthew Tweden
Oratory: 2nd place - Matthew Tweden
Program of Oral Interpretation: 4th place - Christian Gonzales, 3rd place - Morgan Whitley
Group Improv: 1st place - team of Sophia Berg, Christian Gonzales, Caleb Roark, Morgan Whitley, and Matthew Tweden
Record Mime: 3rd place - team of Sophia Berg, Sophia Fernandez, and Caitlin Lee, 1st place - team of Christian Gonzales, Caleb Roark, and Morgan Whitley
Reader's Theater: 2nd place - team of Sophia Berg, Caitlin Lee, and Caleb Roark, 1st place - team of Alex Chaiken, Sophia Fernandez, Christian Gonzales, Danny Tomlin, and Morgan Whitley
Best Actor: Sophia Berg
Best Speaker: Matthew Tweden
Best Novice: Micah Headley
Bay City, December 1-2, 2017
Congratulations to the Speech and Debate team for placing 2nd overall at the Bay City tournament.
Novice Poetry: 4th place - Caitlin Lee
Senior Poetry: 8th place - Hannah Feldman, 3rd place - Sophia Fernandez
Novice Prose: 4th place - Micah Headley
Senior Prose: 6th place - Sophia Fernandez
Friday Storytelling: 2nd place - Christian Gonzales, 1st place - Sophia Berg
Saturday Storytelling: 5th place - Alex Chaiken
Dramatic Interpretation: 5th place - Caitlin Lee, 2nd place - Hannah Feldman, 1st place - Morgan Whitley
Humorous Interpretation: 6th place - Christian Gonzales, 4th place - Caleb Roark, 3rd place - Danny Tomlin, 1st place - Sophia Berg
Program of Oral Interpretation: 3rd place - Christian Gonzales, 2nd place - Morgan Whitley
Duet Acting: 5th place - Christian Gonzales/Morgan Whitley, 1st place - Alex Chaiken/Danny Tomlin
Auditioning: 1st place - Sophia Berg
Novice Extemporaneous Speaking: 1st place - Matthew Tweden
Novice Impromptu Speaking: 3rd place - Matthew Tweden
Original Oratory: 7th place - Perry Williams, 4th place - Matthew Tweden
UIL Lincoln Douglas Debate: Quarterfinalist - Rebecca Rasmussen, Semifinalist - Jenna Kim, 2nd place - Matthew Tweden, 1st place - Perry Williams
Music Interpretation: 1st place - Sophia Berg
Dance Interpretation: 4th place - team of Caitlin Lee, Caleb Roark, Christian Gonzales, and Morgan Whitley
Duo Improv: 6th place - Morgan Whitley/Caleb Roark, 5th place - Christian Gonzales/Sophia Berg
Group Improv: 7th place - team of Alex Chaiken, Danny Tomlin, and Micah Headley, 1st place: team of Sophia Berg, Christian Gonzales, Caleb Roark, Morgan Whitley, and Matthew Tweden
Record Mime: 3rd place - team of Christian Gonzales, Caleb Roark, and Morgan Whitley
Reader's Theater: 6th place - team of Hannah Feldman, Micah Headley, and Grace Wu, 3rd place - team of Sophia Fernandez, Danny Tomlin, Alex Chaiken, Christian Gonzales, and Morgan Whitley, 2nd place - team of Sophia Berg, Caleb Roark, and Caitlin Lee
Trinity Classic, November 4, 2017
Congratulations to the Crusader Speech and Debate team on their Sweepstakes win.
Solo Acting: 3rd place - Morgan Whitley
Duet Acting: 3rd place - team of Morgan Whitley/Christian Gonzales, 2nd place - team of Alex Chaiken/Danny Tomlin
Prose: 6th place - Sophia Fernandez
Poetry: 5th place - Morgan Whitley, 4th place - Christian Gonzales, 2nd place - Alex Chaiken, 1st place - Caitlin Lee
Bible Reading: 5th place - Christian Gonzales, 4th place - Grace Wu
Duo Improv: 4th place - team of Christian Gonzales/Matthew Tweden, 1st place - team of Morgan Whitley/Caleb Roark
Soapbox Speaking: 5th place - Morgan Whitley, 3rd place - Christian Gonzales
Impromptu Speaking: 3rd place - Matthew Tweden, 2nd place - Morgan Whitley
Extemporaneous Speaking: 5th place - Christian Gonzales, 3rd place - Perry Williams, 1st place - Matthew Tweden
Oratory: 2nd place - Matthew Tweden
Congressional Debate: 4th place - Matthew Tweden
Lincoln Douglas Debate: 1st place - Matthew Tweden
Top Speaker: Matthew Tweden
Best All Around competitor: Matthew Tweden
Journey Tournament, September 23, 2017
Crusaders won Team Sweepstakes!
Lincoln Douglas Debate: 4th place - Rebecca Rasmussen, 3rd place - Jenna Kim,
1st place and Top Speaker: Matthew Tweden
Public Forum Debate: 1st place - team of Anna Jacks and Christian Gonzales
Congressional Debate: 3rd place - Matthew Tweden
Informative Extemp: 5th place - Jenna Kim, 3rd place - Rebecca Rasmussen
Persuasive Extemp: 6th place - Perry Williams, 2nd place - Christian Gonzales, 1st place - Matthew Tweden
Oratory: 3rd place - Perry Williams
Dramatic Interpretation: 3rd place - Hannah Feldman, 2nd place - Caitlin Lee, 1st place - Morgan Whitley
Humorous Interpretation: 6th place - Anna Jacks, 4th place - Caleb Roark, 3rd place - Christian Gonzales, 1st place - Danny Tomlin
Poetry: 6th place - Alex Chaiken, 5th place - Hannah Feldman, 3rd place - Kenzie Jones, 2nd place - Anna Jacks, 1st place - Sophia Berg
Prose: 8th place - Morgan Whitley, 7th place: Kenzie Jones, 4th place - Caitlin Lee, 3rd place - Anna Jacks, 1st place - Christian Gonzales
Program of Oral Interpretation: 3rd place - Anna Jacks, 2nd place - Morgan Whitley
Hurricane Debate Tournament, September 9, 2017
Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate: 4th place - Rebecca Rasmussen, 1st place - Matthew Tweden, Top Speaker - Rebecca Rasmussen
Varsity Lincoln Douglas Debate: 5th place - Sophia Fernandez, 1st place - Perry Williams
Extemporaneous Debate: 5th place - Matthew Tweden, 4th place - Perry Williams, 3rd place - Morgan Whitley, 1st place and Top Speaker - Danny Tomlin
Impromptu Speaking: 6th place - Morgan Whitley, 4th place - Christian Gonzales, 2nd place - Danny Tomlin
Public Forum Debate: 5th place - team of Anna Jacks/Christian Gonzales, 4th place - team of Caleb Roark/Morgan Whitley, 2nd place - team of Rebecca Rasmussen/Matthew Tweden, Top Speaker - Matthew Tweden