On April 18th and 19th, members of the Scarsdale High School Speech and Debate team competed in the New York State Forensic League (NYSFL) Grand Championship Tournament. 

The NYSFL Championship is one of the final tournament for members of Speech and Debate, showcasing months of preparation, competition, and a year of refining. Just qualifying for states is an achievement, as it requires consistent success across many tournaments throughout the season. Once at states, though, the stakes and level of competition rise significantly, as students compete against top performers from across New York State.

A typical day at states is very long and demanding. Competitors arrive early in the morning and stay until very late in the evening, with rounds interspersed with periods of waiting. 

In Oral Interpretation (OI), competitors memorize and perform pieces of prose and poetry, bringing them to life with their voice, face, and movement. “You’re basically creating multiple characters and emotions without props or a set. It’s about making different pieces of writing feel like one complete story,” Hailey King ’28, who went on to win the state championship in Oral Interpretation, described.

The process of preparation is very lengthy. Students begin working on their pieces early in the season, which begins in September, selecting materials and crafting their binders. “It’s not just memorizing, it’s constantly improving how you deliver the piece,” King added.

This process can be immensely challenging. “I was often frustrated when I saw limitations to what I could make out of my piece,” Erin Jung ’28, another SHS competitor in OI, said. She noted how difficult it can be to match the level of students at the state championship. At the same time, she recognized the progress she made, particularly in mastering different voices and delivery techniques for various characters in a piece.

After initial qualifications, the second day of the tournament included a semi-final and final rounds, in which the competition intensified. “At that point, everyone is really talented, so it comes down to the small details and staying fully present,” King said.

For many students, states provided an opportunity for incredible growth in their speech and debate careers. “It’s really easy to forget a specific tone or movement when you’re nervous, so being able to do everything I worked on felt really rewarding.” Jung recalled, feeling proud when of when she successfully executed the techniques she had practiced throughout the season. 

“Don’t focus only on winning—focus on improving. The more you connect with your piece and stay consistent, the results come naturally,” King said. Ultimately, speech at the state level is about much more than rankings or titles. It’s an opportunity for students to challenge themselves, develop their skills, and gain confidence as performers.

In contrast to the performance-focused nature of speech, debate’s essential components are logic, strategy, and real-time analysis. At The NYSFL Championship, SHS students in Public Forum (PF), a partner-based event centered around current events and public policy issues, debated whether Congress should be responsible for authorizing troop deployments. In PF, partners decide what roles they would like to take on. One partner delivers the initial case and later summarizes key points, while the other focuses on rebutting the opponent’s arguments and delivering the final speech. Competitors participated in five preliminary rounds, each of which could significantly impact their chances of advancing.

Competitors had to research their topic, develop structured arguments, and prepare evidence-based responses to potential counterarguments using organized rebuttal documents called “block files.”

“We thought we had an automatic win,” George Papazoglu ’28 said, recounting a situation in which a missing judge led to confusion and an unexpected loss. “But later they found a judge, and we had to debate—and we lost.” Papazoglu’s disappointment reflected the unpredictability of tournaments of this caliber. 

Competitors must remain focused and perform to the best of their ability, not letting past losses affect the future. “That’s just how it goes sometimes,” Papazoglu reflected. 

Despite these challenges, debate offers significant benefits beyond the competition itself. The skills developed through debate, such as critical thinking, organization, and quick decision-making, can be applied in day-to-day school life. “I think debate has really improved my critical thinking,” Papazoglu said. “It’s helped me in English and even in math, because I can think more clearly and organize my thoughts better.”

In the end, The NYSFL Championship is not only the highlight of the speech and debate season, bringing students together from across the state, but also gives a great opportunity for personal growth, achievement, collaboration, and the development of skills that extend beyond the activity itself. The tournament marks the continuation of a tradition of excellence and dedication.