FTHS Forensics: Tis’ the Season to Speak

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Phillipsburg tournament, October 25, 2014. From left to right: Phoebe Saltzbart, Tierney Egan, Mernine Ameris, Liz San, Jesal Patel, Joyce Huang, Andrea Poosikian, Lauren Myman, Mustafa Sheikh, Alison Pagalilauan, Aaron Wohl, Asher Vaysblat, Gustavo Sacramento, Elisa Zikoff, Jason Stango, Danny Scerbo, Katie Shum, Stephanie MacDougall, Hatim Malek, Alexandra Knighton, Mark Rinder, Craig Chikis, Lynn McCool, Oscar Carillo, Daniel Arif, Jake La Fronz, Justin Myman, Geroge Fragoulias, Emily Baum, Matthew Shernicoff, Murat Alpa, Ryan Hillermeier, Amabel Kim, Rian Weinstein, Shana Kleiner

Shana Kleiner, Staff Writer

The number one fear in America is public speaking. Since the forensics season has started, Freehold Township forensicators, otherwise known as Fighting Opi, overcome that fear every Saturday at 6:30 in the morning, wearing various colored suits. For this group of high school students, the commitment is not taken lightly.

Forensics, in essence, is speech and debate. The word “forensic” quite literally means “of public debate or argument” The National Forensics League was founded in 1925 and is still very much alive today, encompassing about 1.2 million high school students and proving to be one of the longest lasting competitive establishments. For Freehold Township, however, forensics is so much more.

Every Tuesday and Thursday after school, room D215 is filled with students who evidently know each other very well. There is an air of comfort in the room, and as the board makes announcements in the front, the rest of the kids are silent and respectful. The team refers to themselves as a family, and by the way they interact, it must be true. But, forensics is not just the friendships and fun, but it is also extremely hard and tedious work.

Students have to write and memorize ten minute speeches, act out performances, immerse themselves in characters, talk intelligently about foreign and domestic affairs, debate controversial events, and speak completely off the cuff. “Forensics is something everyone can fall in love with, maybe not right away and maybe not all the time, but it definitely is,” says Mernine Ameris, FTHS senior and speech captain of the Freehold Township Fighting Opi.

This team is so much more than a club; it is an outlet for students to express themselves with passion. Almost every Saturday during the season, students travel to high schools all over New Jersey where they are ranked on a scale from 1-6 in tournaments. Students who get the highest ranking, meaning the 1, will be able to move onto finals and ultimately get a trophy and congratulations from the team. FTHS Fighting Opi even go to national tournaments including Yale, Harvard, and Princeton.

The competitive atmosphere of this activity may seem overwhelming, but according to students, it is completely worth the stress. Forensics teaches one how to be part of a team, how to speak with poise and confidence, and most importantly, it teaches kids that their thoughts are valid.

So, the forensics season has finally started, and on the weekends these students will walk around in suits and willingly present themselves to be judged. This activity stresses the importance of analytical thought and intellectual ability. It proves that kids, ranging anywhere from 14 to 18, can truly be part of something that is life-changing.

As students ride back home from tournaments, clutching their trophies, there’s an overall sense of homeliness with the FTHS Forensics team being one big family of speakers.