Every season for the forensics team can be filled with rewarding moments. While the 2014-2015 season was no different in this, it was unique in the sense that it produced a state champion and marked the last year for its head coach.

There are multiple events in which students can compete when on the forensics team. State Champion Colleen Huston’s (’15) event was Poetry.

Huston explains how she felt during the state tournament. “It was really exciting and really cool because I got to see a lot of people that I had gotten to know throughout the course of the entire season.”

The 2014-15 season was filled with memorable moments – too many great events to recount this year, said Kathy Phillips, head coach and English teacher.

“The state tournament was fantastic and that assembly for Colleen was a once in a lifetime,” she said.

This season was a great season, but this was also Phillips’ last year coaching the forensics team. She said it has been memorable and that the best part has been watching the students grow as competitors.

“I like to see my speakers excel and set goals and attain them,” she said. “I like that I’ve been a part of their journey.”

Students also have learned from this year’s journey. They also have fond memories of how much of an impact Phillips has had on them.

“She’ll tell you what you need to know, but she’ll also add in a little humor,” said Persh Shastri (’18). “To me, she’s not just a coach, but she’s more like a friend.”

When competing against other teams, students need to be compassionate, and they need to put in a lot of effort to make their speeches competitive.

Forensics can be challenging, but at the same time, it can help improve students’ speaking skills.

“Forensics has made me a better speaker,” Nidhi Shastra. “It has made me more formal when I have to be and has prepared me to know how to do interviews for college.”

Forensics is not only a fun activity, but it can also help improve students to become better in the future. Students can become more confident speaking in front of classes, and being on the team can help them improve in terms of talking about certain subjects.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re bad or good at something, but I think that if you work hard enough and if you’re really passionate about it and if you take criticism… you can achieve anything,” said Shastri.