SHS Speech and Debate Team

This year, all clubs, activities, and sports have been forced to change the way they operate. The SHS Speech and Debate Team has been fortunate enough to have a season even with the changes that social distancing brings. For the 2020-2021 season, all tournaments were held online through Tabroom, a website similar to Zoom. Speechies and Debaters would wake up early in the morning on Saturdays to log onto the Squad Room by 8:00 am to compete. Led by Speech Captain Reeya Kansra, Extemp Captain Rithika Prasad, Debate Captain Sanjana Yadav, President Nikhil Sadavarte, coaches, and many more, the SHS Speech and Debate Team has had an excellent year.

At the Massachusetts Speech and Debate League State Tournament, held on April 10, Shrewsbury came in third for speech sweepstakes, and had three state champions. Rithika Prasad came first in Extemporaneous Speaking, and Shalini Biju came first in both Original Oratory and Informative Speaking. Additionally, SHS had many other finalists throughout the numerous categories. Full results can be found on the team’s Twitter, @ShrewsburySD. Throughout the entire speech and debate season, Shrewsbury has seen multiple first place winners at local tournaments and many finalists in national tournaments such as Harvard or Princeton.

Although the Speech and Debate Team has been fortunate enough to even be able to compete safely in this social distant world, of course it’s not the same. Senior and President of the Speech and Debate team Nikhil Sadavarte, mentioned that because all tournaments were online, he was unable to enjoy them to their fullest. He added on that in previous years, they all hated waking up at 6:00 am to put on formal clothes and then freeze in an overcrowded bus during the winter, but the memories they made as a team during the in person seasons were unlike any other. The thrill of competing in person, and the random moments you’d have meeting new people weren’t possible this year. Even connecting with other people on their own team was hard this year as there weren’t many opportunities for people competing in different categories to bond. Basim Naeem, another senior on the team, mentioned that traveling for national tournaments and staying in hotels with friends was something he was really looking forward to during his last year.

As a novice on the team myself, I can truly say that the SHS Speech and Debate Team is built on the bonds the team creates. My favorite memories of this year weren’t made in any of the rounds I competed in. They were made in the Squad Room playing Skribbl, complaining about rounds, and just talking to other members of the team. Freshman and novice Anne Tie mentioned that being on the team is amazing because it allows you to make good friends. You get closer with people in your grade, upperclassmen on the team, and even people from other schools during in person tournaments.

Next year, try out for the team. The Speech and Debate Team does have an audition process to get on the team, but once you join it will truly be one of the greatest experiences of your high school career. So at the start of next year, audition (and please bring someone to judge with you).