Winter 2021: Forensics Society Coach's Corner

Along with our assistant coaches, I’d like to offer a “welcome home” to our distinguished alumni and supporters of the Central Catholic Forensics Society reading this inaugural edition of the Viking Voices CCFS Alumni Newsletter.

As I pause to reflect at the mid-point of our current forensics season, the Chinese proverb “may you live in interesting times” would be an accurate descriptor for this past year. Last March our young upstart squad was quite literally “filled with the spirit.”  Nine boys were preparing to compete at the PHSSL HS State Championships in mid-March.   Six boys had qualified to NCFL Nationals in late-May and four additional students had earned plane tickets to the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA/formerly NFL) Grand Nationals in mid-June. Alas, our best laid plans were quickly eviscerated by the realities of the current global health crisis. PHSSL States and NCFLs were both cancelled for the first time in their storied histories, and NSDA Nationals was moved to an online-only competition. Central did manage to have three boys (two seniors in debate and a mere freshman in speech) compete virtually at NSDA Nationals in mid June.

In late July, with the health of competing students and their respective families being the highest priority, the NSDA, NCFL, and our local governing boards all decided that the 2020-2021 forensics season would need to be conducted in a “virtual-only” environment.

Faced with this daunting reality, our CCFS team coaches (all alumni) met virtually in early August to weigh our options. We had a critical decision to make. We could lament the loss of what was familiar and comfortable, opting to put the season on pause by delaying our start and waiting for the return of the “old ways" of competing (note: this was an option was chosen by a number of other schools). Our alternate path was to embrace new ways and new technology in an effort to make this crisis a learning opportunity and foster continued growth within our CCFS ranks.  Brother Kevin and the assistant coaches were unified in their decision to go headlong down the latter path: technology-driven virtual competition it would be, and we’d commit not just to make it work, but to excel under these “new normal” conditions. In the words of Robert Frost, we opted to choose the road less travelled…and that has made all the difference!

As the team was preparing in earnest for our season’s kickoff tournament in early October, we were shaken to our core with the sudden passing on October 6th of our leader, mentor and spiritual counselor, Brother Kevin Dalmasse, FSC. Brother Kevin had been the CCFS moderator for the past decade. The measure of this loss to both our students and coaches cannot be accurately described in words. Brother Kevin embodied forensics at Central Catholic. His dogged commitment to excellence helped revitalize forensics at Central, and helped elevate our debate teams performance to lofty heights not seen since the 1980s. The profound  sense of loss felt the team was meaningful…but so was their resolve to move forward (as a tribute to Brother Kevin’s memory). It was a truly amazing thing to witness. Coaching roles and responsibilities were quickly redrawn, and two additional CCFS alumni were drafted to assist with debate events in an effort to help fill our sudden coaching void.

As we currently embark on the second half of the 2020-2021 season, I am pleased to report that the current state of the CCFS is incredibly strong. We’ve overcome many challenges presented by COVID19. We are now growing as an organization and frankly, we are flourishing under the new virtual competition structure!

Our current CCFS rolls shows 37 active NSDA/NFL members, representing an increase of 25% in our student membership when compared to the same point last year. These numbers are particularly impressive given our limited capacity to recruit new talent onsite from this year’s incoming freshman class.

The team has continued its traditional winning ways in the debate events. I am also pleased to report that we are currently enjoying an unprecedented level of success in the individual speech events. 

Having competed year-to-date in eleven local, regional and national circuit tournaments, the CCFS has amassed an impressive tally of awards:

• 12 First Place trophies
• 13 Second Place trophies
•  13 Third Place trophies
• 57 total Final Round trophies (cumulative)
• 3 Speech Team Sweepstakes awards
• 2 Debate Team Sweepstakes awards
• 2 Overall Team Sweepstakes awards

None of the success we’ve enjoyed this season would have possible without the steadfast commitment to the CCFS cause from Central Catholic’s current administration. We are championed (in particular) by our school principal, Brother Tony Baginski. With that being said, our student numbers continue to grow, and thus our monetary needs are also increasing. The funds provided by Central do help in defraying some of our CCFS operating expenses, but all school activity budgets have a top-side limit.

As we endeavor to develop a five-year strategic plan for sustaining and growing the CCFS, it becomes plainly apparent that our continued growth in participation numbers (and our success competing on the national HS circuit) can only be accomplished with added financial support from our dedicated alumni group. Based on the many conversations I’d had with CCFS alums since assuming the head coaching duties in October, I am fully confident that our alumni group solidly stands “shoulder-to-shoulder” with current student competitors and coaches, resolved to both protect and grow this love of ours for both current and future generations of CCFS members.

On behalf of our current CCFS students and coaches, I extend a sincere thank-you for your continued interest and your support as we collectively work to restore the Central Catholic Forensics Society to its prominent place on the national speech and debate stage. The future remains very bright!

“Crescat Hic Amor Noster”

Patrick Dickey ’85
Acting Head Coach
Central Catholic Forensics Society