Typically, the word forensics strikes people to think of crimes and investigations, rather, the Bakersfield High Schools Forensics team isn’t on a mission to crack any cases.
Forensics is a speech and debate, a platform for youth voices to be heard, build confidence, improve communication abilities, and encourage students to use critical thinking skills that will help them in the future.
Gloria Hena, Mackenzie Self, Kyle Dewey, Jasmine Celedon, Abbie Gold, Noah Haushalter, and Eagan Sauter are just some of the students who represent the Bakersfield High School Forensics team during competitions with the help of their coach, Jennifer Thompson.
All competitions include Impromptu speeches and Lincoln-Douglas Debates.
The Impromptu speech is a quickly put-together speech on a random topic of the judges’ choice, the topics can include, but are not limited to, a famous person, artifact, or historical event in time. The students have two minutes to prepare a five-minute-long speech. In total, the whole round is seven minutes, and there are three rounds in each competition.
October 7 Tournament
In the Impromptu Speech competition on Oct. 7, Drillers took the lead. Their rankings included seniors Gloria Hena, in first place, Mackenzie Self in second, and Eagan Sauter in third place.
In comparison, a Lincoln-Douglas debate is a one-on-one face-off between two opponents who argue opposing sides of a given topic. Lincoln-Douglas debate topics typically focus on current or proposed legal policies.
In the Lincoln-Douglas debate, Eagan Sauter competed twice for the JV team. Once on October 7th, earning third place. The second was on
October 16th, winning first.
On Nov. 4 Mackenzie Self placed high enough to qualify for the semi-finals.
December 2 Tournament
Drillers continued to excel during the tournament at West High School on December 2. Abigail Gold, sophomore, placed first in the Holiday Original competition.
While Gold took second place in the JV Impromptu category, sophomore Zenon Yadon won first place.
Representing Drillers in the Varsity competitions, senior Gloria Hena took second place for Impromptu. Sophomores Sofia Bye and Riley Taft took third place in the Varsity Public Forum category.
There is only one competition left for the Drillers in 2023. The last competition will be at Liberty High School on December 11.
