Debate is a battle of brains and wits and is highly competitive; it is one of the most popular electives at Olympic Heights, though not too long ago, it was not even offered as an option to students. What started out as one student’s vision for a club at Olympic Heights has completely transformed in the past ten years: There are four debate classes currently, ranging from Debate 1, which anyone can join, to Debate Honors, in which students are selected by the teacher to advance.  Over 100 students are enrolled in a debate class, and roughly 60 actively compete at competitions across the country.  

One reason debate has evolved is because of the dedicated sponsors who spend many weekends and hours outside the typical school day at debate competitions.  Zachary Goldstein (Mr. G), yearbook adviser and debate teacher, and Liana Moss, math teacher, coach these word warriors.  Goldstein, Moss, and the debate team have travelled everywhere from local tournaments at Wellington Community High School, Suncoast High School, and John I. Leonard High School to national tournaments at prestigious universities such as Emory, University of Florida, University of Kentucky, and Harvard.  

Participating in debate has the ability to drastically change a student’s high school experience.  Senior Zachary Swietnicki used to be a shy student who would rather “blend into the walls” than actually talk to his peers. He joined the debate team accidentally and tried to switch out, but he didn’t like the other elective options. The first time he spoke in debate class, he could barely hold his paper still and couldn’t stand up straight. Thankfully, with the support from his fellow classmates and Mr. G, he got involved, and “something just clicked.” Debate didn’t just teach him about arguing—it gave him confidence in everything he did. He made friends, found mentors, and created unforgettable memories and experiences he never thought he’d have. It was honestly the best “mistake” he ever made. The benefits of joining the debate team or taking a debate class are countless as the quieter students are encouraged to find their voices. 

The team spirit of winning and losing together, even while competing against each other, is something unique to speech and debate. The team motto, “Always proud, never satisfied,” puts a growth mindset in students, encouraging them to continuously set and achieve new goals.  Learning to defend one’s opinions in a constructive manner is a vital skill in life that young minds gain from speech and debate. For senior Matthew Golbois, debate changed his entire high school experience in the best way possible. It became a focal point of his education, and he parlayed the public speaking skills he gained into his other subjects in school. Golbois learned how to properly argue a point and how to persuade someone to listen to what he has to say on a topic. He also learned the value of hard work and discipline. “You can never really slack or not put in 100% in your work or else the results will show poorly,” Golbois stated. His favorite memory was going to Harvard for a tournament in February 2024 because he debated against top schools in the nation and toured Cambridge.

The debate class has created almost a second home for senior Madison Hlasny. It was a place of comfort for her high school experience. Of course, having the same teacher all four years established a role model at this school she could trust, but she has also been able to form a family with all her peers in the debate team. Also, being in debate has brought her in touch with students from across the country through the tournaments she’s attended. “Attending Nationals has allowed me to form stronger bonds with my peers and friends and has created a whole new experience for me that I would have never expected in high school,” Hlasny asserted. 

The OH debate team has had great success so far this year, whether it’s helping a quiet student become more outgoing or winning a tournament.  “The year is young, but so far we have had several memorable moments,” Goldstein expressed.  “We’ve seen many novice debaters experience success at local and national tournaments, veteran debaters achieving higher than we ever have, and a major expansion in terms of opportunities for our students to compete on multiple levels.” 

If you would like to learn more about the national speech and debate organization, please visit https://www.speechanddebate.org/.