Xavier High School - Speech and Debate Members go to New York State Forensic Championships

State-qualifying members included...James Gallagher '14, James Raleigh '14 Jose Vila '14, Adam Lyons '15, Kevin Ko '15,
Aidan Fitzgerald '15,
Malcom Queneau '15, Joseph Rovito '15, Justin Westbrook-Lowery '16 Joseph Papeo '16 and Steven LaRussa '17

Speech and Debate Members go to New York State Forensic Championships

Eleven members of Xavier's Speech and Debate team recently went to Dehli, NY to compete in the New York State Forensic Championships for the third straight year. The students who went were wildly successful, as five students placed highly in the tournament. Joseph Papeo '16 took fifth place in J.V. Extemporaneous Speaking, while Malcom Queneau '15 and Adam Lyons '15 took third and six in Impromptu Speaking. James Raleigh '14 placed fifth in Student Congress, and was joined at the top of Congress by Joseph Rovito '15, a finalist, and James Gallagher '14, a semifinalist. The latter three combined to help Xavier to a second-place team finish in Congress.

The success of this year's team is due to many things, not the least of which is the hard work of its members. "The team has been working hard all year long, " said Coach Ed Walsh. "Upperclassmen have also been able to take more dominant leadership roles than before. Two years ago, everyone on the team was new to the activity. Now, students understand the need for practice and for hard work." Mr. Walsh also said that the team is helped by several dedicated alumni coaches, including Bill Gallagher '95, Jeremy Norris '97 and Don Hooper '97.

This year's successful State performance comes after several years of good results as well. In the past three years Xavier has seen 24 students qualify for States, 12 of those make it to the quarterfinals or higher of the tournament, three National qualifiers, and one National finalist - Malik Horton '13.

For now, the team is taking a well-deserved break. This year's tournaments and competitions started as early as September, and will culminate in the National Catholic Forensic League Grand National Tournament at the end of May, for which seniors James Raleigh and James Gallagher are both qualified.