This year, the debate team started off without a coach after previous coach Mrs. Oakes became a district special education coordinator which led her to being unable to work with the team. 

Mrs. Oakes started the team and ran it for three years. She had previous experience coaching at a middle school for 3 years and competed in high school as well as college. When she announced her leave as coach at the end of last year, she and Mrs. Ayers began to look for a replacement.

However, late into September they were still looking for a coach. Mrs. Ayers expressed a desire to continue the debate program as well as grow it into the future and said that statement applies to any program at Mead. The administration actively searched for a new sponsor for the debate team and hoped to find someone qualified enough to help the team flourish.

Finally, it was announced that a new debate coach had been found. Many debate team members rejoiced as the amount of time they spend together during debate season has made them all very close. 

However, as October is what is known as “novice season,” some debate team members are concerned that the team’s late start could lead to a rocky season.

Michelle Morgan, who has been on the debate team for three years, expressed that she was “worried that [the team] may get a late start on tournaments and practicing.”

But now that the team has a coach, practice is in full swing. His name is Grant Nelson. 

Nelson coached speech and debate for 8 years in Wisconsin but had never competed in high school himself because he would have considered it “terrifying.” When asked what goals he had for the team this year, he said, “Everyone on the team has different goals so I hope everyone gets out of it what they want to get out of it.”

Speech and Debate team practices are every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30-4:30 in room D123.