By Destiny Hopkins, JRN 111 Student
Moraine Valley’s Speech Team will be competing on a new “stage” this 2020-2021 season beginning Friday, Oct. 24.
“The coaches and team are thankful that this activity that teaches such important life skills will be allowed to continue during our socially distant times,” said head coach John Nash.
Due to COVID-19 the speech team will not be traveling to different schools this year to compete. However, team members will now compete via webcams that will be set up in Moraine Valley classrooms.
“We are currently working with Multi Media Services and Wally Fronczek, the dean of Liberal Arts, to create safe and functional competition spaces on campus,” said Nash.
The team members have been preparing for this upcoming season with coaching sessions through Zoom and WebEx. There are 12 Moraine students writing and practicing speeches in preparation for the Speech Team’s first tournament.
“Team captain Moises Bello has been leading his team with spirit and talent,” Nash said.
Tournaments have transitioned to synchronous, where participants perform live in front of a camera, and asynchronous, where participants’ performances are prerecorded and then submitted. To make tournaments run smoother, schools in Region IV have created the RAFL (Region IV Affiliated Forensics League). Nash has been appointed Tournament Director for RAFL as well, meaning he will help manage seven synchronous tournaments.
“Working united, as one, will hopefully produce the best experience for students,” said Nash.
The team also has tournaments Nov. 14 and Dec. 12.
