The Speech and Debate team has begun their season on a high note. With three new officers and a team of wildcards, the team started off the year with the Princeton tournament on Sept. 11. Leading these students, alongside head coach Allison Neeley and new assistant coach Susan Pattison, are three new officers for the season. Junior, Aiden Smith is this year’s secretary, junior, Lara Anderson as vice president, while senior Jules Elliott is this year’s president.

Although the spring is usually the tournament-heavy season, this year’s fall semester also seems to be packing a punch, with two, sometimes three tournaments a month. This season has one of the largest first-year competitor turn out. It has been up to Neely to mentor and teach the new students the basics and foundations of speech and debate.

“The team really is a great support system, they do nothing but lift you up and are always checking in on you, helping you make progress,” freshman, Nina Burroughs said. “You can really always feel their energy, even over text.”

Following their first tournament, Anderson broke to finals in Congress Debate. Congress is a five person team event, but each team member competes alone alongside each other.

“When I got the results that I broke [to finals], there was this numb sense of fear, but also joy,” Anderson said. “I really couldn’t have gotten there without my teammates. They’re awesome.”