The Windward Speech and Debate team has started this year off with a bang – winning invitational tournaments, sweeping local competitions, and traveling nearly every weekend to compete at the highest levels across a wide range of events. This year marks the first time in which debate has operated as an official Windward team, with consistent after school practices, and weekend tournaments. This shift has elevated the team’s level of commitment, and the results speak for themselves.
The team’s first major tournament of the year was the Jack Howe Invitational, where Windward debaters hit the ground running. Novice Public Forum debaters dominated the field, with Elizabeth Kung ‘29 and Felix Guo ‘29 advancing to octafinals, while Kavi Matthews ‘29 and Jack Goldberg ‘29 as well as Roger Scott ‘29 and Harry Nelson ‘29 broke to quarterfinals. Two Parliamentary Debate teams also advanced, with Will Sipkins ‘28 and Cha Kusserow ‘28 reaching to octafinals, and team captains Fia Fischler ‘27 and Leah Gray ‘27 making an impressive run to semifinals. In speech events, team captain Harper Caruso ‘27 placed 6th in Original Oratory, and she was not stopped there, also advancing to semifinals in Informative Speaking. Extemporaneous standout Rose Butje ‘27 capped off the tournament with a second place finish.
Building on that momentum, the team then headed to its first travel invitational of the year: the La Costa Canyon Invitational in San Diego. Highlights included multiple Lincoln Douglas debate competitors and one Parliamentary team advancing to elimination rounds. Harper continued her strong Informative Speaking streak, making it all the way to semifinals, while Rose was crowned the champion of extemporaneous speaking. Reflecting on her success, Harper shared that Speech and Debate “provides a place where people are free to share and express themselves in a community” –a sense of community fuels the team’s competitive success and provides the support needed to endure 13-hour tournament days.
More recently, the team competed at the Peninsula Invitational in Palos Verdes, where two Parliamentary Debate teams advanced to octafinals. The Novice Public Forum debaters team of Harry and Elizabeth reached finals, earning second place overall. Speech competitors also saw strong results, with Luca Hayutin ‘28 and Ella Brill ‘28 both advancing to semifinals in Impromptu Speaking, and Luca also semifinaling in Extemporaneous Speaking. In Informative speaking, Zoë Katz ‘26 made it to semifinals, while Harper placed third overall, and Rose once again dominated–championing both Extemporaneous and Impromptu Speaking.
Beyond trophies and titles, Speech and Debate has provided students with opportunities for growth that extend far beyond competition. “Speech and Debate has allowed me to develop skills that I don’t always get to build in the classroom” explained team captain Zoë. Captain Leah furthered that, “Speech and Debate provides a safe space for public advocacy and allows me to express my voice.” In a time when speaking can truly make all the difference, the Windward Speech and Debate is shaping the next generation of leaders, activists, and advocates by teaching students how to use their voices with purpose.