For the Gabrielino High School Speech and Debate team, the road to Nationals has not just been about competition. The Eagles have pushed their limits, sharpened skills, and forged strong team bonds.
The National Qualifiers tournament took place from March 7-8. The team delivered an impressive performance, securing 14 national qualifiers and one auto-qualifier for the national tournament which will be taking place from June 15 to 20. The Eagles also earned the Sweepstakes Championship, awarded to the best-performing team overall.
“This senior class has started out really good, and they’ve continued to be amazing. This is one of the greatest classes I’ve ever had in my 28 years of coaching,” shared Speech and Debate coach Derek Yuill. “They started out amazing as freshmen, and they’ve only gotten better.”
Senior Kara Mak took first place in Original Oratory out of 32 competitors. Already a state qualifier, Mak focused mostly on refining her delivery.
“My speech was on how the way we talk seems to matter more than what we have to say. I wanted to inspire people and make a difference,” Mak said with a smile. “I took the critiques I got from the state tournament and applied them to my script.”
Debate competitors also saw success. Seniors Matthew Tafoya and Joaquin Vivar placed second overall out of 18 competitors in public forum debate. For debaters, extensive research and live practice rounds were key. Tafoya described the preparation as both mental and strategic.
“We did a lot of research, but what was even more important was having actual practice debates. We debated four times a week, including lunch and embedded time,” Tafoya. explained.
Preparation for the qualifiers was rigorous and demanding. In the weeks leading up to the tournament, speech members extended practice sessions, staying until 8 p.m. and even holding weekend meetings at teammates’ houses.
Senior Marco Cisneros-Farber, who balanced his own training with coaching younger members, earned first place in International Extemporaneous Speaking out of 12 competitors.
“I spent eight hours a week after school practicing,” said Cisneros-Farber. “Helping others allowed me to reflect on my own speech and also improve.”
Beyond individual performances, the team emphasizes a culture of support. All competitors mentor each other, routinely critique each other’s speeches, offer feedback, and ensure everyone is in the right mindset before stepping into a round.
“I try to provide an island of stability,” shared junior Zachary Tang, who earned 6th out of 12 teams in duo interpretation alongside junior Jaslin Situ. “No matter who we’re up against, it’s never about placings or ranking, and I just try to focus on doing our best and improving.”
The speech team has also built traditions to keep spirits high.
“One of my favorite things is walking and talking in between rounds. We debrief and give each other suggestions to improve, but we also uplift one another,” Mak stated.
With the National Tournament in Iowa on the horizon, team members are looking forward to one final opportunity to prove themselves.
“For us seniors, Nationals will be our last experience as high schoolers,” said Tafoya. “Regardless of if we win or lose, being together for the last time after graduation will be the most important part.”
Mak reflected on a defining moment at qualifiers, one that demonstrated the unity and closeness of the team.
“Before the final round, me and another captain just looked at each other, smiled, and gave each other a nod. It meant so much to me knowing she was there supporting me.”
As they prepare for the final stretch of the year, underclassmen and seniors alike remain focused on their goals: winning, improving, and leaving behind a lasting legacy.
“I want to instill a mentality of working hard and appreciating what we have,” said Jaslin Situ. “If everyone puts in the effort, I know Zachary, me, and the rest of the team can achieve big things; we already have.”
