“Chaotic” is how Mrs. Rodgers, the Speech and Debate coach, describes the competition that took place this Saturday. Our team traveled to Fayetteville to compete in this season’s final tournament.
The Dogwood Speech and Debate League (DSDL) hosts monthly or bimonthly competitions at various schools nationwide, and this week, our team participated in DSDL 6, the last event of the year.
The Green Level Speech and Debate chapter is an inclusive and welcoming community that fosters communication, leadership, responsibility, and so much more.
Our incredible coach, Mrs. Rodgers, provides endless opportunities and unwavering support to help students reach their fullest potential.
On Saturday, Green Level brought home impressive results, placing in nearly every category. In Novice Lincoln-Douglas, Rahul Thatikonda earned a spot. In Novice Public Forum, Prerna Meenakshi and Ishaan Advay received Honorable Mention, with Siddarth Santhosh and Sriyansh Sunkesula also qualifying for Honorable Mention. In the Congressional category, Hasini Kanthi made it to the finals. Ann Mary Thomas took 8th place in Impromptu Speaking, while Aadi and Aarav Thakker received Next-In in Declamation. Nikki Bodeti was a finalist in Original Oratory. Congratulations to all these participants and everyone who took part!
Two significant awards from the event deserve special mention. Mrs. Rodgers – in her first year as coach – was honored with the ‘Best Coach of the Season’ award, a moment of pride for all of Green Level, recognizing the dedication and hard work she puts into ensuring everything runs smoothly.
“I really appreciated the recognition from the league because it has been a crazy, stressful year trying to figure out how everything works,” says Mrs. Rodgers.
Her attention to detail and organizational skills are essential in ensuring the registration process, competition preparation, and overall structure are flawless. “I was putting in a lot of work… at every turn, for registering for tournaments,” she adds.
Reflecting on the award, she shares, “It felt good to be seen.”
But Mrs. Rodgers wasn’t the only one to be celebrated. Rohit Kumar, the Executive Director of Speech and Debate, was also honored with the ‘Most Improved Team Performance’ plaque.
“It kind of felt like a nod to myself,” says Kumar, recognizing the team’s remarkable growth. The award goes to the team that earns the most points over the year, and with Green Level’s recent increase in participation, their points soared. In its first year, Green Level was represented solely by Kumar, earning points but not enough to make a major impact. This year, however, the expanded team helped propel the overall total, marking a significant leap forward.
With participation growing at every competition, the Green Level team was energized and uplifted.
And so, with the Fayetteville competition, the 2024-2025 season of Green Level’s Speech and Debate team comes to a close. Many unforgettable memories were made, and we look forward to even more in the future.
Congratulations to everyone who placed, qualified, or participated this season!
