Georgia Forensic Coaches Association

Spring Coaches Meeting. Zooming into this brave new world.

Congratulations.

We have 2 December Students of the Month! The first student of the month is Adam Marshall from North Hall High School! (first photo) Adam is an all-around great fellow who maintains a high GPA while competing at tournament after tournament, AND keeping drama obligations rolling (not an easy task). At the Archer tournament this fall, he very willingly helped the tournament out in a division for which he read, for the first time, and sat out a division for which he had registe...red, but which didn’t make for that day. Moreover, he also became an Impromptu State Qualifier that same day!! He always has a smile and a friendly cooperative personality. Our world would be a much better place with more good citizens like Adam Marshall. Congratulations to Adam and his coach, Charity Wang! The second student of the month is Nishita Ghanate from Woodward Academy (second photo on left). Nishita is an outstanding policy debater, having won a variety of debate awards. Just last week , she has been in finals of the Westminster tournament where she also earned a speaker award. Nishita is always polite and friendly to both fellow competitors and adults. Nishita is also very well-rounded, and has competed in track & field as well as debate. She has also been a National Merit semifinalist. Congratulations to Nishita and her coaches Bill Batterman and Maggie Berthiaume!

The GFCA is lucky to have great Speech and Debate educators in our state. Please consider nominating one for this honor.

At the Westminster Debate tournament, in varsity policy, 6 of the 8 teams competing in quarters represent Georgia schools. Those schools are Woodward, Westminster, Alpharetta, and Chattahoochee. Congratulations!

Congrats to 4 first-year policy debaters from Woodward and Alpharetta who just finished debating in novice finals at Westminster! Alpharetta was negative and Woodward was affirmative.

Adam Palmer is the November student of the month. Adam is a four year member of Cherokee Speech and Debate, and I am proud to nominate him as a GFCA student of the month! I have had the pleasure of watching Adam mature his speaking skills and was thrilled with his third place win in Informative Speaking at the Peachtree Ridge tournament. Adam has competed in a multiple events from Lincoln Douglas Debate, Big Questions Debate, Congressional Debate, and a variety of speech events. He is currently using this knowledge to coach a new team at Creekland Middle School in Cherokee County. Adam is a true team player and embodies the NSDA honor code. This coach is proud to have him on the team. - Head Coach Jamie Lynn Wills

Congratulations, again to Mariah Cady and Coach Lyndsey Oliver of Columbus High School.

We have 2 October Students of the Month. Congratulations Kathryn Plumb, and Rachel MacDonald! Kathryn Plumb (Valdosta) is a four year competitor in various speech events but mostly Dramatic Interpretation and Congressional Debate. She has qualified and competed at Nationals every year since she was a freshman. This last year she advanced to the semi-final round of Prose Reading. She is also the current Girls State Governor. A social activist Kathryn has participated in and... organized a number of environmental protests over the years. On our team she is known as someone who is always willing to help cut a piece or rework a speech. Rachel MacDonald is a sophomore at Alpharetta High School and a valued member of our policy debate team. Rachel has the best attitude! She is always excited and eager to go to a tournament, even if the tournament doesn't go well. She is the first to volunteer to debate novices or help judge their debates. Rachel loves debate and her enthusiasm is contagious! She helps the team remember that debate is about more than winning.

Our GFCA member schools and their students see a clear path to a successful season and future! The 2020 GFCA Circuit season started with an eye-opening month! Congratulations to all of our students, coaches and schools! #2020Vision #roadtotheGFCAStateChampionships #WeareSpeechandDebate September Statistics: Tournaments: 5 Entries: 638... Schools Competing: 42 Students With Full Bids: 27 Schools With Bids: 8 See more

It's great to see so many GFCA alumni debating at the Georgia State University Policy Debate Season Opener! You can find information about their prelim records here: https://www.tabroom.com/in/tourn/results/ranked_list.mhtml

The 2019-2020 Season kicked off today with the Peach Fuzz, novice meet at Carrollton High School. Additionally, the GFCA offered new coaches Coach and Judge training. Special thanks to the GFCA alumni who came back to judge and guide the novice competitors into competition. Special appreciation to the Carrollton coaches Richard Bracknell and Janey Simmons for hosting this training tournament and to the many veteran coaches who came, with and without competitors, to offer guidance to our new colleagues - Walter Cotter, Lyndsey Oliver, Laura Dockens LaChappelle, and Pam Childress. To our new coaching colleagues: Welcome aboard. Call anytime. We are all here to help. (Pictures to be added soon.)

Hargunn and Jordan (Alpharetta) and Jared/Rohan (Hooch) hang out after a close round 3 at the University of KY. Proof that one of the many benefits of debate is making friends :)