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SPEECH AND DEBATE

And my point is: Forensics competitors swarm Albany for Catholic nationals

About 2,500 of the nation's top high school debaters and public speakers competed May 23-24 in Albany at the 58th annual National Catholic Forensics League Grand Tournament. Events were held at high schools throughout the region and teams occupied a dozen hotels. 

Saturday night, an estimated 700 of them filled St. Mary's Church in downtown Albany for a Mass celebrated by Bishop Howard J. Hubbard. 

Local organizers and coaches called the event a coup for the region as well as the Diocese and its youth, schools and coaches. 

"It's a major deal that it's here in Albany," said Mary Beth Dunne, the forensics coach at the Academy of Holy Names in Albany. "Usually it's in places like Chicago, Boston or New York. Last year it was in Appleton, Wisconsin, so we thought if they did it we could."

Students from 61 dioceses across the country participated in three types of debate and about 10 forms of public speaking, from extemporaneous - on current events - to dramatic performance, usually of a play excerpt. 

They qualify for the competition through local tournaments held on a diocesan basis. Despite its name, the NCFL includes both public and private schools. 

Events took place in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, the New York State Museum, Albany Academy and Shaker, Albany and Colonie High Schools. Finals for two events were held in the theaters in the Egg at Albany's Empire State Plaza.

Aside from Holy Names, students from Albany, Shenendehowa, Christian Brothers Academy and other high schools participated. Alicia Slavis of CBA was tournament director, and dashed about ironing out details with a cell phone against her ear. 

Christina Lombardi, 16 and a junior at Holy Names, competed in the category of declamation.

"It was a lot of fun to be with a lot of different people who all shared an interest in forensics from all over the country," she said. "There were a lot of really good people."

Scores of local volunteers served meals, organized schedules and judged events. At the Albany Academy, Mrs. Dunne drafted her parents, nieces and nephews - who belong to St. Catherine's and St. Teresa's parishes in Albany - for the effort.

"This is a wonderful activity," said her mother, Joanne Toomey. "My granddaughter excelled in it at Holy Names and it served her well at Villanova."

Robert Altenburger, a junior from Kellenberg Memorial High in Uniondale, N.Y., said that while competing in Lincoln-Douglas debates, his Catholic faith "helps in finding out why someone is for a certain position, but then you actually debate on more philosophical grounds."

In his homily at the Saturday evening Mass, Rev. James Walsh, Albany diocesan vocations director, challenged the students to discover why they were given their talents for speech and debate. He suggested three ways to use these. 

"There is a need for youth ministers, because we need people who can speak to our youth. There is a need for people to speak for those who can't speak for themselves - the poor, the single mother without health insurance, the undocumented immigrant who's afraid and hiding. And there is a need for some of you to serve as priests, brothers and religious," he explained.

In each post, Father Walsh said, the ability to think and speak effectively is a primary qualification. 

A choir from Holy Names sang at the Mass. "It's amazing to take part in an event like this," said one member, Elise Amodeo, a 17-year-old junior. "We feel very honored."

The State Capitol captivated some out-of-towners.

"I was thinking of New York City and expecting big, crowded and scary," said Emily Reichenberger, a 17-year-old debater from Haven High School in Haven, Kansas. 

"But we got a chance to visit a lot of different places and I love it."

(05/28/09) [[In-content Ad]]

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