GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (GRPS) – Speech season is off to a roaring start for the GRPS Speech and Debate team. The team has already competed in three tournaments across Michigan. GRPS took home first-place team awards at Michigan State University on February 14 and Grand Rapids Christian High School on February 28.
With both long-time teammates and first-time competitors, the awards ceremonies have been packed with GRPS students. At Michigan State, 18 students competed, and 2 new students observed. This was repeated at Grand Rapids Christian with 19 competitors and 4 observers.
Speech and Debate gives students the skills and space to speak up and use their voices to express themselves and their desire for change in our community. With each tournament, students develop their public speaking skills and improve on their past performances, developing into powerful changemakers ready to shape our future.
While Debate is often focused on argumentative discussion, Speech allows students to explore the creative side of public speaking. Students can pick from a variety of events, ranging from theatrical performances of poetry and children’s stories to passionate speeches about current events or societal issues. Just like Track and Field, students can compete in a “relay” event with a partner or group of friends, or by themselves in an individual event. This gives students a chance to explore different interests and strengthen writing, speaking, and performance skills that can be used in school settings as well.
While Speech Season may be in full bloom, qualifying tournaments for the 2026 National Speech and Debate Tournament are just getting started. After prevailing in the Michigan District Tournament for Public Forum Debate, Sophomores Mithil Joshi and Jake Kooyman will represent GRPS and the State of Michigan at the National Tournament this June in Virginia. Congrats and best of luck!
GRPS’s speech and debate program is coached by William Harris, a two-diamond National Speech & Debate Association coach and 30+ year volunteer with GRPS.
This article was written by GRPS Speech Student Leader Colette Crowley, a sophomore at City High Middle School.
