O’Connor Speech and Debate

Speech and Debate team at Sandra Day O’Connor High School and 2024 UIL State Champions in Informative and Persuasive Speaking!

[O’Connor Speech and Debate @OConnorDebate]

Be sure to stop by our table at Panther Picnic at 6 PM today at O’Connor! We will be selling ice cream and stickers! Come support us!

[O’Connor Speech and Debate @OConnorDebate]

Work hard!
Play hard!

We had a blast at our end of year team party at Main Event and gave out some team awards as well!

[O’Connor Speech and Debate @OConnorDebate]

This was a truly historic season for O’Connor Speech and Debate. In May, we won the UIL 6A Informative AND Persuasive Speaking State Championships thanks to alumni Zachary Stewart ‘24 and Madeline Mitchell ‘24!

These are O’Connor’s first UIL State championships since 2012!

[O’Connor Speech and Debate @OConnorDebate]

At the end of April, we took on the UIL 6A Region IV Speech tournament hosted at UTSA. The team took home 1st Place Speech Team in the Region!

Informative Extemp:
Zach - Champion
Ally - 5th
Cooper - 6th

Persuasive Extemp:
Madeline - 2nd

LD:
Zach - 4th
Ally - 6th

[O’Connor Speech and Debate @OConnorDebate]

In early April, we hosted UIL District and dominated the competition taking home the 6A District 29 title!

IX:
Zach - Champion
Cooper - 2nd
Ally - 3rd

PX:
Madeline - Champion
Xavier - 2nd
Anita - 4th

LD:
Zach - 2nd
Ally - 3rd
Cooper - 5th

Poetry:
Victoria - 6th

[O’Connor Speech and Debate @OConnorDebate]

Part 2 of the NSDA Central Texas District Qualifier saw some incredible Panther milestones!

Ally, Cooper, Madeline, Xavier and Zachary qualified to Nationals in World Schools Debate and O’Connor was honored with the Leading Chapter Award!

[O’Connor Speech and Debate @OConnorDebate]

Next, our UIL CX squad sacrificed part of their Spring Break to compete at UIL State at UT Austin! Although we did not quite get the results we wanted, we had a great experience!

[O’Connor Speech and Debate @OConnorDebate]

We took our talents to TFA State in Houston at the start of March! It took a lot out of all of us!

Zachary - International Extemp Quarterfinalist
Cooper - Impromptu Speaking Quarterfinalist

[O’Connor Speech and Debate @OConnorDebate]

Next, we competed in Part 1 of the NSDA Central Texas District Qualifier for Nationals!

International Extemp:
Zach S - 2nd
Madeline - 3rd
Anita - 7th

US Extemp:
Cooper - 6th
Xavier - 8th

Lincoln-Douglas:
Ally - 7th
Zach J - 17th

Zach S and Madeline qualify for Nationals!

[O’Connor Speech and Debate @OConnorDebate]

In mid February, we split the squad! Madeline and Zach were invited to compete in the Cap City Round Robin in Austin!

Meanwhile, our younger competitors got valuable varsity experience at the Roosevelt Teddy Tussle!

Domestic Extemp:
Eyrick - 5th
Xavier - 6th

[O’Connor Speech and Debate @OConnorDebate]

In early February, we headed back up to Austin to attend the Wild Westlake Chap Classic!

US Extemp:
Cooper - Champion

Novice Extemp:
Xavier - 4th

Congress:
Cooper - 6th

[O’Connor Speech and Debate @OConnorDebate]

Looks like we dropped the ball on updating results from this year so we are going to play some catch up! 😊

In January, we had a great experience at the Lake Travis tournament!

Congress:
Cooper - 9th
Julianna - 10th

DX:
Cooper - Semis

NX:
Anita - Semis

[O’Connor Speech and Debate @OConnorDebate]

Bow down to the champs!

UIL CX District CLEAN SWEEP!
Amy/Madeline - Champs 🥇
Ava/Xavier - 2nd 🥈
Ava/Troy - 3rd 🥉

Amy - Top Speaker with Perfect Speaker Points

Look out for them at UIL State in March 👀👀

@NISDOConnorHS @OCRobMartinez

[O’Connor Speech and Debate @OConnorDebate]

Wish Zach and Madeline the best of luck as they compete for a UIL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP in Congress today at the Texas State Capitol!

They are 2 of the top 18 Congressional debaters in the state and we are so immensely proud of them! Go Panthers!

@NISDOConnorHS @OCRobMartinez

[O’Connor Speech and Debate @OConnorDebate]

Zach and Madeline have clawed their way to Day 2 of UIL State Congress! Go Panthers!

[O’Connor Speech and Debate @OConnorDebate]

Last weekend, the O’Connor Speech and Debate team finished strong at the 49th Winston Churchill Classic - one of the most prestigious competitions in TX!

Zach - 2nd Place - International Extemp
Ava and Xavier - 2nd Place - Novice Policy Debate
Michael - 5th Place - Novice Extemp

[O’Connor Speech and Debate @OConnorDebate]

A prideful pack of Panthers is off and running at the Winston Churchill Classic! Ready to get the big trophies! 🏆 🤠

@NISDOConnorHS @OCRobMartinez

[O’Connor Speech and Debate @OConnorDebate]

Thank you to @dshsdebate for an outstanding experience at the Tiger Tussle!

Congrats to the Panthers below on their success!

International Extemp:
Zachary - Champion (now qualled for TFA State!)

Congress:
Cooper - 3rd
Claire - 8th

Novice Extemp:
Michael - Semis
Xavier - Semis

[O’Connor Speech and Debate @OConnorDebate]

Enjoying a wonderful day of competition at the Dripping Springs Tiger Tussle! Go Panthers!

@OCRobMartinez @NISDOConnorHS @dshsdebate

[O’Connor Speech and Debate @OConnorDebate]

We are so proud of Zach, Ally, Cooper and Madeline as they represent us at the UT Longhorn Classic today! Wish them the best of luck as they go into this national-level competition!

@OCRobMartinez @NISDOConnorHS