In action at Shawnee Mission West! Much of the team taking the week off to prep for district Congressional Debate, so it’s Auggie with the Oration and Poetry.

We’re at Olathe East chasing a qualification spot for the NSDA National Tournament in June!

Michael Kimani rallies from six points down to win the final round and advance to NSDA Nationals in June! He will be only the second STA competitor ever to represent us in Program of Oral Interp.

The last rodeo for the official STA Debate program…but the work will go on in other venues and under other names. In this season of renewal, we remember that nothing beautiful ever truly dies.

Debate may be gone, but forensics lives on! Closing out the regular season at Blue Valley this Holy Weekend.

At Blue Valley, James Arkell finishes 6th in Congressional Debate, and Eli Carter closes out an excellent career with a 4th place finish in Oration. State in two weeks, then NSDA Nationals in June.

On site for tomorrow’s 5A State Tournament! Wonder how we’re gonna do?

At 5A state, Auggie Collins ends his novice campaign 18th in the state in Oration. Michael Kimani advances to state semifinals in Prose and Program of Oral Interp.

Michael Kimani finishes 7th in the state in Prose and is a state finalist in Program of Oral Interpretation. Results circa 7 pm.

Michael Kimani finishes 3rd at 5A state in Program of Oral Interpretation. In June, he’ll take the performance to the national tournament stage.

We're not saying that if your kid does competitive speech they'll grow up to be Pope. But we're not NOT saying that...

The crew is en route to Des Moines and NSDA Speech Nationals!

National Speech and Debate Association is celebrating its centennial; Michael seems to have been thrust into the background by the magnitude of it all. Maybe not as true once competition starts…

Round 1 NSDA Nationals and ready to roll!

Michael’s out after prelims in Program of Oral Interp, but his question continues tomorrow in Prose and Poetry!

Michael Kimani advanced to the elimination rounds of the national tournament in both Prose and Poetry! The gauntlet begins at 8 am tomorrow.

120 prose entries and 120 poetry entries remain. By this evening, there will be six. How high will Michael climb?

Michael’s season ends in the first elimination round of NSDA Nationals. Through his junior year he has three state finals and three nationals elim appearances on his ledger.

All members of the STA and SJA delegations in Des Moines are safe and accounted for.

I enjoyed my time at the helm. Next year we expect a boost in numbers as the most successful coaching team in program history retakes the reins. Thanks for backing these kids!