Beakon Staff Report
Since the early days of the school year, a select group of students began writing speeches, researching debate topics, and cutting up theatrical scripts with one thing in mind: the Ohio Speech And Debate Association state tournament.
That time is here for 11 members of our speech and debate team who have battled to earn a spot among the state’s best at Wooster High School this weekend.
“This is always a very exciting time for any student who competes in speech and debate because you work so hard all year to get to this point,” Vince Taddei, the team’s co-director, said. “It’s even more special to this program, which has experienced such great success, and means so much to Cardinal Mooney.”
Taddei was part of the team that won the 1992 state championship, which is the program’s sixth team title.
Ally Cooper, the team’s co-director, also has experience as part of a championship team – she was a part of the 2013 Canfield squad that brought home the title.
“It takes great dedication to be a part of speech and debate, but making it to state requires a deep commitment to the craft,“ Cooper said. ““
Senior, Elijah Williams, will be making his third appearance at the state tournament – each time in Original Oratory.
“Because almost our entire team qualifies to state, it could appear to be easy, but it’s not,” Williams said. “There is simply a standard here at Cardinal Mooney, and we’re aware of it at all times. It’s pressure, but that’s good because our coaches know exactly what it takes to get to state, and do well there.”
Each member of the coaching staff has been to the state tournament as a competitor. Besides Cooper, they are also all Cardinal Mooney graduates.
Along with Taddei, they include:
- Maria Bova
- Mitchell Bogan
- Andrew Neider
- Tina Furano
- William Valentini
- Maureen Baker
This is the lineup that will compete at the 2024 state tournament:
- Mya Colella, junior – Lincoln Douglas Debate
- Audrey Anderson, sophomore – Lincoln Douglas Debate
- Victor Camacho, junior – Congressional Debate
- Garrett Bogan, junior – International Extemporaneous
- Jibril Jackson, junior – International Extemporaneous
- Ethan Hanni, sophomore – United States Extemporaneous
- Chris Wynn, senior – Duo Interpretation
- DJ Patterson, senior – Duo Interpretation
- Mike McGlone, sophomore – Humorous Interpretation
- Elijah Williams, senior – Original Oratory