Spring 2021: Forensics Society Coach's Corner

COACH’S CORNER

As we approach the 11th hour of what has been an unprecedented high school speech and debate season, I offer greetings from the friendly confines of classroom 106 at Central Catholic, otherwise known as the “Dalmasse Center for Forensics Excellence”.

The Oxford dictionary defines remarkable as an action or series of events “worthy of attention; striking.” In truth, I cannot find a more appropriate word to better describe the current season for our Central Catholic Forensics Society.

After a strong early start to the season, the CCFS kicked it into overdrive during nine competitions held between January 30th  and March 20th, and the collective outcomes were very impressive:

• 9 First Place trophies
• 6 Second Place trophies
• 10 Third Place trophies
•  9 Fourth Place trophies
• 6 Fifth Place Trophies
• 8 Sixth Place trophies
• 48 Final Round Competitors (Cumulative)
• 15 Additional “Break Round” competitors
• 3 Speech Sweepstakes Awards
• 2 Debate Sweepstakes Awards
• 3 Overall Sweepstakes Awards

During our annual “Big Three” competitions (PHSSL-PA State Championships, NCFL Qualifiers and NSDA Qualifiers), the team performed quite admirably.

• At PHSSL States, the CCFS crowned 3 state champions (Oscar Heller ’22, Parker Osth ’22 and Liam Carnahan ’22). We had a total of 9 final round competitors overall, and 80% of our competitors qualified into the “break rounds” on day 2. The team as a whole took home the  2nd Place - Sweepstakes Award for their unified effort. This was Central’s best overall performance at States in more than 25 years!
  
  
• At the NCFL Nationals-Pittsburgh Diocesan Qualifiers, Sixteen CCFS competitors advanced to compete at the grand national tournament in late May. This splendid effort resulted in our largest contingent of Central Catholic qualifiers to NCFLs in more than 40 years.
  
  
• At the NSDA Pittsburgh District Qualifiers, The CCFS qualified 5 students to NSDA Nationals in mid-June. An additional 4 students earned First / Second Alternate awards. The team as a whole claimed the 2nd Place trophy in Debate Sweepstakes and a 3rd Place trophy for Overall Sweepstakes.

The team had 16 competitors earn their CCFS varsity letterman’s jackets during the months of February and March, and also qualified 5 speech competitors to the University of Kentucky Tournament of Champions invitational in late April.

Most significantly, five veteran CCFS competitors were recently recognized by the NSDA as “Academic All-Americans”:

• John Evans ’21
• Ezekial Matous ’21
• John Keyho ’21
• Liam Carnahan ‘22
• Dominic Passafiume ’22

This notable award recognizes a student for both academic scholarship and competitive excellence. It is bestowed by the NSDA on just 2% of high school speech and debate competitors annually.  To have FIVE students from one school recognized in just a single season is a major accomplishment for the CCFS!

As we currently prepare in earnest for the NCFL / NSDA national tournaments, I would be remiss if I did not take a moment to recognize the efforts of our dedicated CCFS alumni coaches. The great success our team has enjoyed during this season is a testimony to their steadfast commitment of both time and effort:

• Michael DePasquale ’15 - Assistant Head Coach - Debate
• Paul Beer ’19 - Assistant Head Coach - Speech
• Gregory Lehane ’65 - Speech
•  John Wearden ’18 - Public Forum Debate
• John Hollihan ’20 - Policy Debate
• Nicholas Weising - Congressional Debate
• Sam Rinkacs ’15 - Lincoln-Douglas Debate
• John McGowan ’13 - Lincoln-Douglas Debate

Lastly, a sincere thank-you is offered by the team to our enthusiastic CCFS alumni group. Without a strong bench of dedicated alumni working behind the scenes to provide financial support, volunteer time, and words of encouragement, none of the success that our CCFS has enjoyed of recent would have been possible. Your collective pride in the CCFS was evident via the multiple conversations, social media posts, and hours of volunteer effort invested in support of the team this season. Simply stated, we could not do what we do…without you!

The future remains bright!

Patrick Dickey ’85
Acting Head Coach
Central Catholic Forensics Society

“Crescat Hic Amor Noster”