The Centerville Speech and Debate Team

The Centerville Speech and Debate team reflects a long history of successful competition in Ohio. The students compete from October through March.  Over the last 50 years, the CHS speech and debate team has sent more than 500 students to national tournaments and over 1400 students to state and national recognition. Last year, the team qualified 25 students to the State Championship tournament in Wooster. This year, our schedule is packed with tournaments every weekend.

In fall of 2018, we officially registered a middle school team with the OSDA and NSDA--our parent organizations.  At the National Championships in 2020, one of our eighth graders made the final round in Interp.

Become a Partner and Help the Students Who Are Training to Become a Part of America’s Future

The awards are endless and the recognition abounds.  However, that is not the most important aspect of the Centerville Speech and Debate Team. Rather than emphasizing winning, we stress hard work, commitment to improvement, and good sportsmanship – both in winning and losing. Every year 60+ students and their coaches take those ideals and use them as the basis for the highly successful program we are proud to call the Centerville Speech and Debate Team.

In addition to the time spent on their various events, the students and the coaches put in a great deal of time fundraising to help with expenses for such an extensive program. Given such needs as safe and reliable transportation, registration, judging fees, and increased costs for competitions, it is no longer possible for the students, parents, and the program to underwrite all of the necessary expenses especially since we are annually losing more and more financial support from the school district. We desperately need the help of the community at large to partner with us.

All Private and Corporate Sponsors will  be listed in our banquet program and displayed at the tournaments we host.

Our students perform for local schools, Civic Groups, the public library, and serve as judges for local speech contests such as Woodmen, Optimists, Rotary, etc.

Contact Jeri Neidhard if we can help YOUR program.  439-3527.

Speech & Debate Events Descriptions

• Original Oratory

• Declamation

• Program Oratorical Interpretation

• Dramatic Interpretation

• Humorous Interpretation

• United States Extemporaneous Speaking

• Duo Interpretation

• Informative  Speaking

• Public Forum Debate

• Lincoln-Douglas Debate

• Congressional Debate

• Extemporaneous Debate

• International Extemporaneous Speaking

Centerville’s OSDA Hall of Fame Coaches

In order of induction

Ralph Bender

Elaine Daly

Marie Dzuris

Lynne Bustle

Jeri Neidhard

Centerville Middle School and High School

Speech & Debate

Proud Members of 

Greater Miami Valley District

Ohio Speech and Debate Association

National Speech & Debate Association (formerly called the NFL)