Forensics Team


Jesuit's Forensics Team Hosts Debate Tournament


For the first time in six years, Jesuit High School hosted a debate tournament on campus Friday and Saturday, September 21 and 22, 2007. The Blue Jays set aside their briefs and research and welcomed members of eight competing teams from 
Teurlings High School, Fontainebleau High School, Ponchatoula High School, Lafayette High School, Newman High School, Dominican High School,
St. Joseph’s Academy, and Riverdale High School.

Jesuit Debaters Win Top Awards at State Tournament


Sophomore William Simoneaux and senior Ian Gunn display the high honors
they received at the state tournament for speech and debate.

Sophomore William Simoneaux was named the Top Novice Debater in the State of Louisiana, caputuring the first place medal in the Novice Lincoln-Douglas Division after winning eight consecutive debate rounds at this weekend's 2007 LHSSL Tournament of Champions, which is the state tournament for the speech and debate team.

Many Blue Jays won individual awards and brought back tall, distinguished trophies to Carrollton and Banks. Senior Ian Gunn entered the tournament's final bracket as the top seed in Advanced Lincoln-Doulglas Debate after going undefeated in his first seven rounds. He was bested in a hotly-contested final round. At the awards ceremony, Ian was named Louisiana's second best debater in the Advanced Lincoln-Douglas Division. Additionally, Ian was named to the prestigious All-State Debate team for his numerous accomplishments throughout the year.

Furthermore, other Blue Jays brought back individual awards in debate: Junior T.C. Wicker won the fifth place medal in Advanced Lincoln-Douglas Debate; and Freshman Micah Boyd and Juniors Ian Jorgensen and Christopher Tosh tied for the fifth place medal in Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate.

In the tournament's speech events, junior Paul Leingang won 9th place in Dramatic Interpretation and 4th place in Humorous Interpretation. In addition to those awards, Paul was named to the Louisiana All-State Speech Team for the 2nd consecutive year.

Also, junior Lee Gresham won the 10th place medal in Humerous Interpretation; and freshmen Nick Falba, Lyle LeBlanc, and Ben Wicker won medals in Declamation.

Congratulations to the Speech and Debate Team for their continued success; the State tournament wrapped up their storied year.

Three Blue Jays Qualify for National Tournament

The Jesuit Debate Team travelled to Acadiana High School in Lafayette to compete on March 9th and 10th at the National Forensic League's District Tournament, in which the winner qualifies for the prestigious N.F.L. National Tournament this summer in Witchita, Kansas.

Ian Gunn, a senior, won five straight rounds to qualify for the tournament. Additionally, Ian Jorgensen, a junior, and William Simoneaux, a sophomore, placed as alternates for tournament.

Congratulations to the Jesuit Debate Team for their continued success.

Jesuit Debaters Perform Well on National Stage

Over the Mardi Gras Break, the Debate Team travelled to Vestavia Hills High School in Montgomery, Alabama, and had their best showing thus far in a national tournament.

Senior Ian Gunn won the second place medal in Advanced Lincoln-Douglas Debate, which qualified him for the National Tournament of Champions later this year at the University of Kentucky. Ian becomes the first Jesuit debater to qualify for the T.O.C. in over six years.

Furthermore, in the novice division, freshman Micah Boyd won the second place medal; and juniors Chaz Simms and Ian Jorgensen took the third and fifth place medal, respectively.

Blue Jays Participate at Ben Franklin Tournament

Jesuit's Forensics Team visited the campus of Ben Franklin High School the weekend of February 10th to participate in Franklin's Speech and Debate Tournament.

Debaters Micah Boyd, a freshman, and Andrew Marquis, a junior, tied for the third place medal.

In speech events, freshman Nick Falba won the first place medal in Declamation.

Forensics Team Travels to U.T., Austin

The Speech and Debate Team travelled west to Austin, Texas, this past weekend to attend the prestigious University of Texas at Austin Speech and Debate Invitational. Categorically, the team had its best showing of the year in a tournament featuring a national draw of over 500 contestants.

In speech events, junior Paul Leingang won the seventh place medal in Dramatic Interpretation.

In debate, senior Ian Gunn won the tenth place medal in Advanced Lincoln-Douglas debate.

In the Junior-Varsity Lincoln-Douglas division, junior T.C. Wicker won the seventh place medal; and junior Christopher Tosh won the ninth place medal.

Jesuit Dominates Riverdale Debate Tournament

At the Riverdale High School Debate Tournament, the Jesuit Debate Team took six out of the eight eligible debate awards .

Senior Ian Gunn won the tournament outright, finishing the event with seven straight victories.

Freshman Micah Boyd and junior T. C. Wicker tied for third place.

Sophomore William Simoneaux, juniors Christopher Tosh, and Ian Jorgensen tied for 5th place.

Debate Team Prepares for Their Next Tournament

Senior Ian Gunn and moderator Mr Travis Smith discuss strategy with debate team members.

Jays Perform Well at Rebel Classic

Senior Ian Gunn won outright the Teurlings Catholic High School "Rebel Classic" Speech and Debate Tournament in Lafayette on Saturday, October 23. He secured first place in the Advanced Lincoln-Douglas Debate division and garnered the top speaking award in the debate.

Additionally, three debaters tied for fifth place in the Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate division: junior Ian Jorgenson, junior Christopher Tosh, and freshman Micah Boyd

In the tournament's speech events, junior Paul Leingang won first place in Humorous Interpretation and second place in Dramatic Interpretation.

Debate Team Travels to L.S.U.

At the L.S.U. Speech and Debate tournament the weekend of October 7th and 8th, the Debate Team won second place in overall debate sweepstakes; and the Speech Team won third place in overall speech sweepstakes.

Top individual awards went to Paul Leingang, a junior, who won Best Overall Speaker in Individual Events; to Alex Hotard, a pre-freshman, who won the Top Novice Debater Award; and to Lee Gresham, a junior, who won two Top Novice Speaker Awards in Individual Events.

Other awards went to debaters Ian Gunn, a senior; Edward Wu, a freshman; and Christopher Tosh, a junior.

Congratulations to the Speech and Debate Team.

MISSION: 
The Forensics Team is devoted to debate, original oratory, extemporaneous speaking, dramatic interpretation, and humorous interpretation. It gives its members an opportunity to participate in competitive interscholastic speech tournaments at the local, state, and national levels and is a member of the National Forensics League, the Catholic Forensics League, and the Louisiana High School Speech League. The team is composed of students from all grade levels.

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