Sounds of binders clicking, gavels banging and pages flipping fill English teacher and Speech and Debate coach Cara Borgsmiller’s room. As April 24 approaches, speakers and debaters are continuing to prepare for competition at the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHAA) Speech and Debate State Tournament. 

“[For] most state tournaments, it’s a brand new game. [After the district tournament, competitors] start all over with the best competitors from the state. Some [West competitors] are refining, and [others] are starting fresh. Either way, they’re coming in, doing rehearsals, practices, getting feedback and trying to use that,” Borgsmiller said.

Juniors Sara Ashok and Annabella Whiteley have been preparing for anticipated Public Forum debate rounds at the state tournament. They will be debating the National Speech and Debate Association’s April topic: “Resolved: The United States should eliminate the President’s authority to deploy military forces abroad without Congressional approval.” To be well equipped, Ashok and Whiteley, as well as other Public Forum debate competitors, are creating cases, preparing blocks to opposing arguments and working with other team members to generate quick responses for cross-examinations in debate rounds. 

“We’re feeling really confident. We’re hoping for some familiarity in teams that we go against, but also, we know it’s good [to] go against people we have never gone against,” Ashok said. 

This Friday, the debate preliminary round begins at 8:30 a.m. at Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo. Competitors will participate in four preliminary rounds and then move on to the quarterfinal round at 5:45 p.m.; their advancement will be contingent on their performances in the rounds prior. 

On Saturday, speakers will participate in two speech preliminary rounds at 8:30 a.m., and they may advance to the final round at 1:30 p.m.

The awards ceremony will be held at 4:00 p.m. at the Plaster Student Union Theatre. The results will be finalized with SpeechWire and will also be livestreamed for viewers on the MSHAA website. 

“I hope people say good luck to all these kids. There are a lot of kids, and there’s a great opportunity here for them. Support them. Ask them if you can watch what they do, [and] give them feedback,” Borgsmiller said.