GTHS SPEECH & DEBATE TEAM
Coach Carter (Debate)
(RM #1018)
Meet Times: Tuesdays at 3:00 PM in Room #1018
Embedded Files
Tournament Schedule 2025-26
Tournament Schedule 2025-26
REGULAR SEASON
OCT. 18: Sequoyah
NOV. 1: Lassiter
NOV. 14-15: Carrollton (hybrid)
Dec. 6: Midtown
POST-SEASON
(based on season rankings)
Jan. 17-18: GFCA 1st & 2nd Year State Championship
Feb. 7-8: GFCA Varsity State Championship
INFORMATION/LEADERSHIP
INFORMATION/LEADERSHIP
National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) Topics for Competition
National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) Topics for Competition
*In accordance with GFCA (Georgia Forensic Coaches Association) rules
*Public Forum Debate – SEPT/OCT. 2025 Topic:
*Public Forum Debate – SEPT/OCT. 2025 Topic:
Resolved: The United Kingdom should rejoin the European Union.
*NOVICE Lincoln Douglas Debate – SEPT/OCT. 2025 Topic:
*NOVICE Lincoln Douglas Debate – SEPT/OCT. 2025 Topic:
Resolved: In the United States, national service ought to be mandatory.
Event breakdown.docx*DUES to join: $60
Pay on Revtrak
(under Clubs-Debate)
LEADERSHIP
President: Alex Gray
Vice President: Caleb Levering
Examples of the work we do to get ready for debates!
2024-2025 ACCOLADES
GFCA Varsity State Championship
GFCA Varsity State Championship
Hosted at Carrollton High (Feb. 7-8, 2025)
The GTHS Debate team was able to secure 2 Varsity State Octofinalists awards for their accomplishments in the GFCA Varsity State Championship.
There were 31 Public Forum (PF) teams represented by over 15 of the best debate schools within the state of Georgia. These 31 debate teams had won regular season tournaments throughout the year so these are the best in the state going for the championship.
Each PF team had to debate in 5 preliminary rounds and had to earn a 3-2 record to get into the elimination rounds. Only the top 16 PF teams went to elimination rounds. 2 of our 3 teams represented Grovetown in the elimination rounds. We earned 2 Octofinalist state finalist awards. Listed are the accomplishments (out of the 31 teams):
*Ash Sonnier and Bradley Merhoff:
Varsity State Octofinalist; finished as 7th best PF team in the State of Georgia.
*Jasmine Franco and Alex Gray:
Varsity State Octofinalist; finished as 13th best PF team in the State of Georgia.
*Cesar Gonzalez and Johnathan Bertrand:
finished 23rd best PF team in the State of Georgia
Please congratulate these teams on their success! This has been one of the most accomplished debate teams since 2019, earning over 15 placement/speaker awards this season.
Thank you for your support and we look forward to next season!
With gratitude,
Coach Carter and Coach Epps
GFCA 1st & 2nd Year State Championship
GFCA 1st & 2nd Year State Championship
Hosted at Marist School (Jan. 17-18, 2025)
The GTHS Debate team was very successful at the GFCA 1st and 2nd Year State Championship at Marist School in Atlanta, GA.
This is how Grovetown did against 20 Public Forum (PF) school teams across Georgia:
-2nd Year PF State Quarterfinalist: Jasmine Franco and Alex Gray
-2nd Year PF State Octofinalist: Ash Sonnier and Bradley Merhoff
*Public Forum is a team debate on factual/analytical evidence.
-1st Year 7th place Speaker Award: Caleb Levering
-1st Year 8th place Speaker Award: Cesar Gonzalez
*Speaker awards are for top 10 debaters in Georgia.
We are very proud of the accomplishments of this team and they have represented Grovetown at the state level with pride and excellence! Half of the team made it to the GFCA Varsity State Championship in February and will represent Grovetown proudly.
Carter/King Tournament at
Carter/King Tournament at
Midtown High School
Midtown High School
Grovetown Debate had their last regular season tournament at Midtown High School on Sat. Dec. 7.
The Carter/King Tournament is one of the most prestigious and challenging tournaments in Georgia, including up to 35 schools across 2 states.
Grovetown received:
*Semifinalist in Varsity Public Forum (Jasmine Franco & Alex Gray)
*Octofinalist in Varsity Public Forum (Ash Sonnier & Sam Benton)
9th Speaker in Varsity Public Forum (Ash Sonnier)
4th Speaker in Novice Public Forum (Caleb Levering)
The team will be competing at the following state championships this season:
*1st & 2nd Year State Championship at Marist School (January 17-19, 2025)
**Varsity State Championship at Carrollton High School (February 7-9, 2025)
Let's GO Warrior Speech & Debate!
Let's GO Warrior Speech & Debate!
Sequoyah High School Tournment
Sequoyah High School Tournment
Autumn Argument 2024
The GTHS Speech & Debate Team competed at Sequoyah High School on Saturday, Oct. 26.
Jasmine Franco & Alex Gray (Varsity Public Forum) will represent GTHS in the Varsity State Championship in February at Carrollton High School.
Additionally, Ash Sonnier earned 1st speaker in Novice Public Forum (NPF), while Bradley Merhoff and Johnathan Bertrand won 3rd and 4th respectively. This was out of 20 school entries (40 speakers) within the state.
In NPF, Ash Sonnier & Bradley Merhoff claimed 3rd place and Cesar Gonzalez & Johnathan Bertrand was 5th.
Alpharetta High School Tournament
Alpharetta Treasure Hunt
We competed in our first tournament at Alpharetta High School on September 14.
We had entries in: Novice Public Forum, Extemporaneous Speaking, and Impromptu Speaking.
Alex Gray and Jasmine Franco earned the championship (5-0 in rounds) in Novice Public Forum.
Bradley Merhoff and Darius Smith earned quarterfinalists (4-0 record going into 1st round of playoffs) for Novice Public Forum.
For Speaker Awards in Novice Public Forum we earned 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 9th speaker.
*Speaker awards are given for how students perform individually in novice public forum.
We earned a spot in the 1st and 2nd Year State Championship at Marist (in January).
Let's GO WARRIOR SPEECH & DEBATE!
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