Eighth-graders Joseph Devich and Aarush Kollipara took fourth place in Parliamentary Debate. Eighth-grader Madeleine Garraux earned fourth place in Storytelling; and seventh-grader Kristin Sadhu earned fourth place in Informative Speaking.
Freshman Neva Jaynes earned fourth place in her chamber and junior Collin McAfee took seventh place in his chamber of Congressional Debate. Sophomore Riley Long took 10th place and sophomore Isabelle Tang received 12th place in Impromptu Speech.
Other participants included senior Andersen Palmer (News Broadcasting); sophomores Athul Chandran and Daniel Lopez (Parliamentary Debate), Beckett Front (Congressional Debate), Preston Musser (Congressional Debate), and Mahin Ugle (News Broadcasting); eighth-graders Brendan Fedorchak and Nihit Mittal (Parliamentary Debate); Madeleine Garraux (Humorous Interpretation), Quinn McNichols (Parliamentary Debate) and Mary Rhenish (Poetry); and, seventh-graders Lila Edwards (Parliamentary Debate), Jonathan French (Poetry) and Michael O’Malley (Congressional Debate).
Organizers for the home event included Speech & Debate Club members senior Zoe Passarelli (president), senior Grace McMichael (vice president), junior Grace Nam (secretary), junior Xavier Martin (treasurer), sophomore Isabelle Tang (public relations manager), senior Andersen Palmer, junior Lily Cicconi and sophomore Mahin Ugle.
For assistance, call (724) 625-1581.
Students Compete in Speech & Debate Tournament
Eighth-grader Mackenzie Allshouse earned fourth place in Humorous Interpretation; seventh-grader Kristin Sadhu took fifth place in Informative Speaking; and freshman Neva Jaynes received sixth place in Congressional Debate.
Other participating students included junior Madyson Etoll and Alexa Knowlton; sophomore Beckett Front, Riley Long and Mahin Ugle; freshman Aarya Raut; eighth-graders Madeleine Garraux, Quinn McNichols and Mary Rhenish; and, seventh-graders Lila Edwards and Jonathan French.
The event brought together 345 individual competitors, competing in 16 individual events. For assistance, call (724) 625-1581.
2023-2024
Two members of Mars Area High School Speech & Debate Team earned recognition through the National Speech & Debate Association Honor Society.
Senior Lauren Karg earned Special Distinction by obtaining more than 500 “merit” points for her participation in competition, service, and leadership activities in March. Freshman Xavier Martin received an Honor Merit Degree by earning more than 75 points.
Mars Area High School is a member of the National Speech & Debate Association, which recognizes middle school and high school students and coaches for participation in speech and debate activities.
For more information, visit www.speechanddebate.org/honor-society/.
PHSSL State Competition
Senior Lauren Karg earned third place in the Prose category. Freshman Xavier Martin competed in the House in the Congressional Debate category.
The competition brought together 655 competitors from 85 schools. For more information, visit https://www.phssl.org/states/.
National Speech & Debate Association Honor Society.
Two members of Mars Area High School Speech & Debate Team earned recognition through the National Speech & Debate Association Honor Society.
Sophomore Zoe Passarelli achieved an Honor Degree by earning more than 75 “merit” points for her participation in competition, service, and leadership activities in January. Freshman Xavier Martin received a Merit Degree by earning more than 25 points.
Mars Area High School is a member of the National Speech & Debate Association, which recognizes middle school and high school students and coaches for participation in speech and debate activities.
For assistance, visit www.speechanddebate.org/honor-society/.
North Catholic High School Speech & Debate Invitational
Freshman Alexa Knowlton earned third place in her chamber in Congressional Debate; senior Lauren Karg took fourth place in Prose; and, senior Miles Stoops received eighth place in Impromptu Speaking. Other participating students included sophomores Julian Coquelet, Gianna Goodman and Samantha Knieriem; and, freshmen Lily Cicconi and Xavier Martin; as wells as eighth-grader Isabelle Tang, as a student observer.
For assistance, call (724) 625-1581.
National Speech & Debate Association Honor Society
Several members of Mars Area High School Speech & Debate Team earned recognition through the National Speech & Debate Association Honor Society.
Senior Adam Julian; sophomores Julian Coquelet, Samantha Knieriem, Grace McMichael and Isabel Radens; and, freshman Kaya Gillespie earned more than 25 “merit” points through competition, service, and leadership activities in November. Merit points reward and encourage members to use their skills to improve their schools and communities.
Mars Area High School is a member of the National Speech & Debate Association, which recognizes middle school and high school students and coaches for participation in speech and debate activities.
For assistance, visit www.speechanddebate.org/honor-society/.
Seton LaSalle High School Novice Tournament
Several members of Mars Area High School Speech & Debate Team competed in the Seton LaSalle High School Novice Tournament, held on Oct. 28.
Freshman Kaya Gillespie earned first place in the Dramatic Performance category; freshman Grace Nam took fourth place in her chamber in Congressional Debate; and, sophomore Zoe Passarelli received fifth place in Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
In addition, sophomore Naveen Jayaraman competed in Congressional Debate and freshman Ava Moravek in Poetry. And, seniors Adam Julian, Lauren Karg and Miles Stoops assisted as judges.
Sophomore Aubree Machi also participated in the event. For assistance, call (724) 625-1581.
2022-2023
2023 PHSSL State Competition
Seniors Avery Beller and Cole Winstead took fourth place in the News Broadcasting category. Junior Lauren Karg received seventh place in the Prose category.
For assistance, visit https://www.phssl.org/states/.
Mars Area High School Speech & Debate Pre-Qualifier Invitational
Several members of the Mars Area High School Speech & Debate competed in a Pre-Qualifier Invitational, hosted by the school on Feb. 18.
Junior Adam Julian earned first place in Impromptu Speaking. Other participating students included juniors Declan Abbey, Vivek Dadi and Miles Stoops in Impromptu Speaking; freshmen Samantha Knieriem, Isabel Radens and Julian Coquelet in Congressional Debate; and freshman Grace McMichael in Poetry
Also of note, senior Cole Winstead and juniors Lauren Karg and Isabela Montes facilitated the tournament. For assistance, call (724) 625-1581.
Hampton Talbot Speech & Debate Tournament
Karg earned first place in the Prose event and qualified for the 2023 Pennsylvania High School Speech League State Competition, to be held March 17-18.
The qualifying tournament brought together 231 individual competitors representing 20 schools. For assistance, call (724) 625-1581.
North Catholic Speech & Debate Invitational
Senior Cole Winstead earned second place and senior Avery Beller took third place in their respective chambers of congressional debate. Freshmen Julian Coquelet, Samantha Knieriem and Isabel Radens also competed in congressional debate events.
Sophomore Kira Frederick received third place in the informative speech event. And, juniors Adam Julian and Miles Stoops competed in impromptu speech.
The tournament welcomed 253 students from 27 schools to compete in 15 different events. For assistance, call (724) 625-1581.