In a room filled with math equations and textbooks, it’s a place some Solon high school students dedicate their evenings.
“We went from one-day-a-week practices, prepping up for districts,” said senior Andrew Kovton, “to every single day, 3 hour practices, to make sure we can crush the competition.”
A few years ago, the high school’s speech and debate team was in its infancy. But now, Kovtun is co-captain of the squad. He is one of 60 students in the school’s extracurricular activity, which is making a big name for itself in competition.
“I’ve seen these kids grow. I’ve seen them all work really hard,” said Jennifer Moore, head coach of the speech and debate team. “Tough love is part of it. We’ve had our moments, but it’s been a good time.”
The 28 students have been cramming in extra hours for this weekend’s national-qualifying tournament. Solon High School will be among 18 schools competing, but Moore is confident in their ability to win.
“Working with these kids has been absolutely amazing,” she said. “We had 8 students go to nationals last year, we’re hoping to do the same this year.”
In these final moments, students rehearse every detail of their speeches, right down to subtle hand guestures, eye contact and facial expressions. Everything counts.
But as serious as the experience sounds, students know how to have fun.
Seniors Raja Krishna and Vincent Wang will perform a humorous duo about a baby–at a Cleveland hospital, no less–without a heartbeat.
“A lot of people mistake us, they think we might be a debate team or some other sort of geeky team,” Krishna said. “I play a Guatemalan cleaning lady who screams and he just does crazy things. Getting that reaction, that irony from people,it’s a huge payoff.”
The two have been performing with each other for three years, nabbing top acting medals and more.
“During practice, we really get the opportunity to bond as people. Vince is probably my best friend here, and it’s through duo,” Krishna said. “Our practices are probably 15 percent go-and-hard practice and the other 85 percent is like playing ping pong.”
“It makes speech a really fun thing to do,” Wang said.
It’s an extracurrular that’s taught them a few unexpected lessons.
“People probably wonder why we give up our weekends, not playing video games,” Krishna said. “But it keeps you on track with your schoolwork too. It teaches you time management and responsibility, while also having a blast every Saturday, cause you’re hanging out with your friends.”