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.

2019-2020 Highlights

Hurricane Debate Tournament, September 7, 2019

Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate:  7th place - Sam Drell, 4th place - Danny Tomlin, 1st place - Kiera Dixon

Varsity Lincoln Douglas Debate:  8th place - Elizabeth Randolph, 4th place - Alex Chaiken, 1st place - Matthew Tweden

Public Forum Debate:  1st  place - Team of Elizabeth Randolph/Matthew Tweden

Extemporaneous Debate:  7th place - Douglas Chaiken, 6th place - Alex Chaiken, 2nd place - Elizabeth Randolph, 1st place - Matthew Tweden

Impromptu Speaking:  5th place - Kiera Dixon, 3rd place - Douglas Chaiken, 1st place - Matthew Tweden

Top Novice Competitor:  Kiera Dixon, Top Debater:  Matthew Tweden

2018-2019 Highlights

Shamrock Debate Tournament, March 23, 2019

Congratulations to the Crusader Speech & Debate team for placing 1st at the Shamrock Invitational TAPPS prep tournament over the weekend, hosted by Holy Trinity Catholic High School in Temple.  A total of 19 private schools from around the state competed in 7 events in preparation for upcoming state competition in Waco on April 1st-3rd.

Duet Acting:  3rd place - team of Christian Gonzales/Becca Gillian, 2nd place - team of Alex Chaiken/Douglas Chaiken

Lincoln Douglas Debate:  Quarterfinalist - Matthew Tweden

Persuasive Speaking:  8th place - Christian Gonzales, 1st place - Matthew Tweden

Prose Interpretation:  5th place - Sarah Benitz

Poetry Interpretation:  7th place - Christian Gonzles, 2nd place - Douglas Chaiken, 1st place - Alex Chaiken

Oratory:  5th place - Perry Williams, 4th place - Christian Gonzales, 3rd place - Matthew Tweden

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

TFA Tournament at San Marcos High School, November 30-December 1, 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, 1^st place - Matthew Tweden

Congressional Debate:  4^th place - Matthew Tweden

Soapbox Speaking:  4^th place - Caleb Roark, 1^st place - Christian Gonzales

Prose Interpretation:  2^nd place - Caleb Roark

Poetry Interpretation:  6^th place - Douglas Chaiken, 3^rd place - Alex Chaiken, 2nd place - Sarah Benitz

Bible Reading:   5^th place - Grace Wu,3^rd place - Alex Chaiken,1^st place - Allie Cermak

Extemporaneous Speaking:  1^st place - Matthew Tweden

Oratory:  3^rd place - Matthew Tweden

Impromptu Speaking: 1^st place - Matthew Tweden

Solo Acting:  5^th place - Christian Gonzales, 3^rd place - Becca Gillian, 1^st place - Caitlin Lee

Duet Acting:  7^th place - team of Sam Drell/Danny Tomlin,4^th place - team of Sophia Fernandez/Caitlin Lee, 3^rd place - team of Caleb Roark/Morgan Whitley, 2nd place - team of Becca Gillian/Christian Gonzales

Duo Improv:  4^th place - team of Alex Chaiken/Douglas Chaiken, 2^nd place - team of Caleb Roark/Morgan Whitley, 1^st 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