Twenty-three students from Bridgewater-Raritan High School attended the first Forensics Speech & Debate tournament of the academic year on October 26. The local event was held at Phillipsburg High School and featured competitors from numerous schools.
The Forensics Club, a competitive academic organization, strives to improve students’ public speaking, critical thinking, communication and leadership skills. Students can participate in a variety of categories, including speech events, debates and political simulations.
This tournament offered an excellent opportunity for both new and returning debaters to experience a real competitive environment. Students competed in multiple rounds throughout the day, showcasing their skills in front of judges and peers. Among the categories were five shining stars from Lincoln Douglas and Public Forum.
Not only did some BRHS students break (placing top six in their respective category) and collect awards, but freshman Tilly Madhusoodanan seized first place in Novice Lincoln-Douglas category. This was also her first tournament in the season as a freshman. Successfully, she made it to finals after four preliminary rounds to take home the championship.
“I had an incredible experience at the Phillipsburg tournament. It was a great opportunity for me to connect with other debaters and explore the tournament’s unique structure,” she said.
Public Forum also had breaks with sophomores Anton Fomin and Ishaan Shetty in Junior Varisty Public Forum (JV PF), seizing second place and also making it to the final round. Juniors Neel Tandon and Luvya Manche broke in JV PF as well, finishing in fourth place.
Despite the competitive nature of the event, many BRHS students found the experience enjoyable and motivating. The tournament has encouraged them to continue participating in the club and to compete in future events.
Sophomore Anvay Ajmera, who was at the tournament, commented on his experience.
“Phillipsburg was really fun… There was some tough competition, and although I didn’t break, this tourney has motivated me to constantly try to do better in the future!” he said.
The BRHS Speech & Debate team is scheduled to attend a great deal of tournaments in the future. The next tournament will be held at Randolph High School on November 23. This event marks a strong start to the season for the team, demonstrating the dedication and talent of its members as they continue to develop their skills in public speaking and argumentation.