By Tanisha Naik
Though small in size compared to other Lovett teams, the Lovett speech team continues to make a big impact on the national stage. Whether it’s through a dramatic monologue, a deeply researched informative presentation, or a well-crafted impromptu speech, team members are turning small ideas into great performances.
The team participates in approximately 20 tournaments each year, including major competitions at Emory University and Harvard. While the number of students on the team has fluctuated, those who have competed have achieved remarkable results.
I spoke with Ms. Waterman to learn more about how the Speech season is going.
This year alone, junior Jackson Liu placed fifth in the state, while junior Carson Tinkler took second place at a Genesius Invitational. Ms. Waterman shouted out Senior Ella Fletcher with her speech about Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen.
Speech competitions encompass a variety of events that cater to different skills and interests. Ms. Waterman handed me a paper with all the speech events and gave me a brief explanation of each.
Students can choose from acting-based categories like interpretation events. Then there’s oratory and information where students will write their own speech. There are a range of topics you can choose from. Ms. Waterman mentioned having students turn a school project into informative speeches, “like one girl did hers on what her American studies paper topic was, and then she took it to a speech contest and she came in first,” Ms. Waterman said.
There is also a persuasive speech where you choose an a topic and turn it into a 10-minute argumentative speech. Program Oral Interpretation allows students to weave together different types of literature such as poems, songs, and excerpts from novels to present a compelling thematic performance.
Other events like extemporaneous test students’ ability to think on their feet where they have to craft a seven-minute speech in just 30 minutes based on a current event topic. “It could be any topic either international or domestic and they have to be well versed in current events and then read the news,” Ms. Waterman told me.
One of the speech team’s greatest strengths is its flexibility. Students do not need to commit to every tournament, but instead, they can balance speech with other activities, such as sports or drama. Unlike debate, where topics change monthly, “speech competitors refine and perfect their presentations throughout the year, continually improving based on judges’ feedback from competitions,” Ms. Waterman said.
I spoke with Senior Ella Fletcher, who joined the team her freshman year after taking the introductory speech and debate class. What started as a teacher recommendation quickly became a passion. Over the years, she’s competed in both Informative Speaking and Original Oratory. Informative speaking also uses a visual aid, which is generally poster boards with pictures relating to the topic.
Her topics range from the evolution of neurosurgery to The Simpsons and their predictions, and most recently, the dominance of Max Verstappen in Formula 1. “I try to choose niche subjects that the judges and competitors may actually learn something new from,” she explained. “Speech has given me the chance to blend education with entertainment.”
Though her season ended early due to lacrosse, Ella still attended three tournaments, Sequoyah, Midtown, and the Barkley Forum, earning second and fifth place. To prepare, she rehearses extensively, often in front of a mirror, ensuring her timing, gestures, and memorization are all on point. “My favorite part of competing is the opportunity to share a topic I’m passionate about with people who might know nothing about it,” she said.
Junior Carson Tinkler brings a dramatic flair to the team. He competes in Dramatic Interpretation which involves memorizing and performing a 10-minute piece from any play, movie, or TV show. This year, he chose a unique source: an episode of BoJack Horseman titled “Free Churro.”
“I honestly joined for the credit, but I stayed because I was having so much fun,” Carson said. Despite the demands of junior year, he’s competed in four tournaments—three in person and one online—earning top-three finishes in each. His process involves selecting and cutting a piece, memorizing it, and then perfecting his performance for competition.
As the season winds down, Lovett’s speech team is preparing for their upcoming national tournament in Chicago this May. The team’s goals for nationals include helping students qualify for higher-level rounds and continuing to refine their performances.
