April 8, 2023

The Junior High Speech & Debate team at Summit Christian Academy (SCA) is quickly developing significant success and talent, and will compete at the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) Middle School National Tournament in Phoenix, Arizona this summer. This is the first time in SCA history that a junior high team has been eligible to participate at Nationals.

The group of students took 1st place overall in the small school division at the Ray-Pec South tournament, 2nd place overall in the small school division at the Brittany Hill Middle School tournament, and two 3rd place overall placements at Belton and Moreland Ridge tournaments.

Individual first place placements include:

Leo Butler and Elijah Zicari in 7th grade public forum debate (Brittany Hill Middle School, Moreland Ridge Middle School, and Ray-Pec South Middle School tournaments).

Josie Gillihan and Violet Darby in 8th grade public forum debate (Belton Middle School and Ray-Pec South Middle School tournaments);

Lottie Mattson in impromptu speaking (Brittany Hill Middle School tournament);

Elena Michael in impromptu speaking (Moreland Ridge Middle School and Ray-Pec South Middle School tournaments)

“These junior high Speech and Debate students are awesome,” shared SCA Junior High Speech & Debate Coach Patrick Love. “They are hardworking, motivated, teachable, competitive, and team players. They had a great season, and they will do great at Nationals!”

SCA High School Freshman Gavin Boor has also earned the right to go to the national championship in Phoenix this summer.