Our speech and debate team held their awards dinner on Monday night, recognizing the accomplishments of speakers and debaters this season.
Seniors Nico Brenneman-Ochoa and Ian McHugh were recognized for their high school career accomplishments of ranking second and third, respectively, on the all-time points leaders at Bethany. With the national tournament remaining, Nico checks in with 1654 merit points and Ian with 1571. Both have obtained the Premier Distinction degree, the highest possible, from the National Forensic League, the oldest high school speech and debate honorary society in the United States. Fewer than 3% of high school debaters and speakers nationwide reach this pinnacle.
Both seniors are four-year qualifiers to the national tournament, a first in program history. Both were named to the All-Northeast Indiana District team.
Nico was earlier named Northeast Indiana Student of the Year. He was also recognized as earning the most merit points in the school year, 541, as a veteran speaker. Earning the high net points award as a novice speaker was junior Simon Dutkiewicz, at 201 points.
Earning varsity letters were Nico, Ian, Simon, and sophomore Eviella Sefu, who was named captain for the 2024-2025 season.
The team this year were Northeast Indiana District debate tournament champions for the fifth year running. They also won the overall District tournament trophy, which aggregates team places in the debate, Congress, and speech tournaments.
Nico and Ian will compete at the National Speech and Debate Association National Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa, June 16-21.
Great job to all the entire speech and debate team.
Be sure to check back in June to see how Nico and Ian do at nationals.
