Speech & Debate

Bellarmine's Speech and Debate team is Bellarmine's largest co-curricular program at 150 members and eight coaches. Also known as the National Forensic League, Bellarmine is the current California Team Champion in speech and debate. Also in 2006, nine Bellarmine students brought home individual state championships in Policy Debate, Lincoln Douglas Debate, tied for first in Public Forum Debate, National Extemporaneous and Original Oratory. In addition, for the first time in thirty-one years, a California team won the national title in Policy Debate. The Bellarmine team of Dylan Groves '06 and Matt Grimes '06 held off traditional powerhouse Montgomery Bell Academy in a 10 - 3 ballot decision for the win.

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Our competitive calendar begins in September and ends in June, but most team members also prepare throughout the summer. Students may choose to compete locally, throughout the state or throughout the country, but must always keep in mind the broader goals of Bellarmine in general and of the team in particular. To that end, students model debate at nearby middle and high schools. Team members coach each other on a weekly basis. All team files are shared. Team leaders are chosen upon their commitment to the freshmen and other teammates.

All students are encouraged to compete in two events. Most choose a debate event and a speech event. Bellarmine students compete in the following events in the state of California and/or nationally:

Speech & Debate Events
Event California Nation-wide
Orginal Oratory x x
International Extemporaneous x x
National Extemporaneous x x
Humorous Interpretation x x
Dramatic Interpretation x x
Duo Interpretation x x
Policy Debate x x
Public Forum Debate x x
Lincoln Douglas Debate x x
Impromptu x
Expository x
Original Advocacy x
Original Prose/Poetry x
Thematic Interpretation x
Oratorical Interpretation x
Parliamentary Debate x

Coaching by both adult coaches and students is available every day of the school year except the first and last weeks of each semester. Students also are coached throughout the summer by appointment.

Results

  • Speech & Debate Cleans Up at Nationals

    Posted: June 19, 2009

    At the National Speech & Debate Tournament the Bells stood above the best. While the national tournament does not have an overall winner, with all the awards the Bells won, they merit the title of National Champions. Read on to see the numerous wins.

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  • Speech & Debate Clinches 4th Consecutive State Title

    By: Kim Jones
    Posted: April 27, 2009

    This past weekend, the Bellarmine Speech and Debate team won its fourth consecutive state team championship at Culver City High School. Sagar Vijay, Will Rafey, Ani Deshmukh, Arjun Srinivasan, Evan Larson, and Ryan Vasquez were all state champions, while Anthony Paranzino, Josh Wood, and Evan Bartz were all second place in their event.

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  • Speech Qualifies 11 More to State Tournament

    By: Bill Healy
    Posted: March 22, 2009

    The Bells competed Friday through Sunday this past weekend at our final qualifier for the state championships. Below you will find our results from the speech portion of the qualifier. Bellarmine added 11 more to give us 27 total qualifiers in speech, to go along with five qualifiers in Student Congress.

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  • Speech & Debate Nationals Qualifiers

    By: Bill Healy & Mike Meyer
    Posted: March 17, 2009

    This weekend (March 13-15) the national qualifying tournament in speech and debate was held at Westmont High School. The top 3 competitors in each event move on to compete in June at the National championships in Birmingham, Alabama. The Bells did extraordinarily well, earning 16 of the 36 slots in contention.

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  • Speech & Debate Congress State Qualifying Tournament

    By: Mikael Meyer
    Posted: March 9, 2009

    This past Saturday the Coast Forensics League held its State Qualifying Congress at Harker’s Upper School. The competitors were divided into four houses and led through vigorous debate by four student presiding officers. After two preliminary rounds of debate in each house, the top five representatives from each house were granted entry into a super session (the finals) with the top twelve debaters going to the State Tournament In Culver City at the end of April.Bellarmine sent six representatives and a presiding officer.

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Contact

The Bellarmine Speech & Debate Team can be reached by contacting
or visiting the Speech & Debate office during break or lunch.