After five years of having a Speech and Debate team at FCHS, this may be their year.  This is the first year that the FCHS team has been Regional Champions.  “Speech was an amazing experience and very memorable.  I’m so glad I was able to be a part of a team like this,” said sophomore Kate Moncure.

On April 2, the team placed first in the VHSL 3A State Tournament, the first time since 1989 that a Fluco team has won States.  Ten students qualified to go to the national competitions in May and June.  Jonathan Corbin, Dominique Smith, Thao Nguyen, Caitlyn Taylor, Savannah Forren, and Savanna Nelson will travel to Sacramento, California, on May 27-30 for CFL Nationals.  Exchange-student Thao Nguyen, who is from Vietnam, got an extended stay in America to go to Nationals with the Speech and Debate team. “Speech helped me get better at English and discover my full potential.  In Vietnam, it’s not really a sport, so when I would try to pursue it, there was never a coach or team to back me up.  Then I came to the States and found my passion,” said.

Next, Jonathan Corbin, Caitlyn Taylor, Andrew Guess, Madison Stafford, Nikola Bajs, and Alex Pellicane will be going to Salt Lake City, Utah, on June 12-19 to attend the NSDA (NFL) Nationals.  “Joining the Speech team was probably the best choice I made this year,” said sophomore Madison Stafford. “The team is so supportive, and it’s not just all about one person, it’s about the whole team.  We all worked together, we put in 100%, and we won the prize!  I’m going to Nationals for the experience, not to win.  I just hope to be better by the time I’m a senior,” she said.

The team has been very busy raising the $23,000 needed for their registration, travel, chaperone, and judging fees.  As a result, the have organized many fundraisers, including spirit nights at El Tesoro and Chick-fil-a, a speech showcase and silent auction, bake sales, and more.  They are also welcoming donations on the Go Fund Me page at https://www.gofundme.com/flucospeechchamps.

For more information about joining speech next year, see Mr. Craig Edgerton or call him at 434-589-3666.