GTHS SPEECH & DEBATE

PAST YEARS

HISTORY OF THE PROGRAM

Mr. Brett Carter has been the head coach of the Grovetown High School Speech & Debate Team since 2014, taking over from Mr. Jonathan Waters who started the GTHS program in 2011. He is affiliated with the Georgia Forensic Coaches Association (GFCA) and the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA).

Alongside Speech Coach Mrs. Becca Todd (2014-2019), the GTHS Speech & Debate team has won numerous awards, including making consecutive state championship bids and being in the NSDA National Championship in Birmingham, AL (2017). The team has hosted multiple tournaments at Grovetown High School since 2011 (Warrior War of Words or also referred to as the "W3") and has found substantial success in getting schools across the Southern U.S.A. to compete in Speech & Debate. Our school is also part of the National Forensic Honor Society and achieves honor cords at graduation pending requirements. Since 2022, Dr. Epps has been assistant coach, mentoring/coaching students in competitive speech events for the team.

In 2023, Grovetown High Principal Craig Baker was awarded the GFCA Administrator of the Year for his support of Warrior Speech & Debate since 2014.

WHERE ARE WE NOW?

The team has picked up steam in the last 3 years and we have dedicated ourselves to debate events including Public Forum (PF) and Lincoln Douglas (LD). We have now included speech events in Extemporaneous and Impromptu Speaking.

In 2023-24, we earned GFCA state recognition in 2nd Year PF as top speaker (Kenzie Houk). Our team has performed very well and earned award bids at the Sequoyah Argument (Nov. 2023), Lassiter Invitational (Dec 2023), and the GFCA 1st and 2nd Year State Championship (Feb 2024). We finished as a state quarterfinalist in NPF for the 2022-23 year and earned top speaker in 2nd Year PF in 2023-24.

We are a traveling/competitive academic team so be aware that you pay dues throughout the year to be a part of the team.

Let's Go Warrior Speech & Debate!

Mr. Carter/Dr. Epps

2023-2024

CCBOE Board Recognition

Feb. 13, 2024

STATE CHAMPION!

Here is a breakdown of how the debate team did at the state championship:

*Kenzie Houk: State Champion (top speaker) for 2nd Year Public Forum (PF).

*Dennis (Alex) Gray: 5th place speaker in the state for 2nd Year PF.

* Jaelly Franco: 8th place speaker in the state for 2nd Year PF.

Grovetown had 3 students placed in the top 8 within the state in 2nd Year PF.

*Sarah (Ash) Sonnier & Jasmine Franco: 1st year PF Octo-finalist in the state.

*Emily Soares: 6th placed state finalist in Extemporaneous.

Grovetown High earned more placements/awards this year than any debate team in Grovetown High School since 2013.

2023-24 1st & 2nd Year State Championship (Jan. 2024) Host: Carrollton High School

Lassiter Invitational (Jan. 2024)

Our NPF teams placed 2nd and 4th at the Lassiter Invitational on Jan. 13, 2024 at Lassiter High School. For extemporaneous speech, we placed 5th and earned a bid for the state tournament.

*Runner Up (2nd)-Grovetown BG (4-1)

*Semi-Finalist-Grovetown FS (3-2)

*5th Place Extempt. Finalist-Emily Soares

Let's Go Warriors!

Sequoyah Autumn Argument (Oct/ 2023)

Our NPF teams placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd at the Autumn Argument on Oct. 28, 2023 at Sequoyah High School. Congratulations to these hard-working students who accomplished a rare feat:

*Champion-Grovetown FH (4-0), Co-Champion- Grovetown GB (4-0), and Semi-Finalist-Grovetown FS (3-1) in the same tournament.

Great work Warrior Debate!