With fresh faces, renewed energy, and big goals, the Concordia University Speech & Debate team is ready to launch into a new 2025 season. 

Director Konrad Hack set the tone with his outlook, “I want everyone to have fun and do their best. That being said, winning is fun, and I am hoping to get everyone to their full potential as quickly as possible.”

Sharing this enthusiasm, team captain Laura Gibson added, “As captain, my goal for this season is to equip and empower our team with the tools and resources they need to be successful in life, feel confident going into everything, and build a community where people feel like they can be authentically themselves.”

Preparation to reach these goals is already underway, with hours of practice, research and fine-tuning performances. Speech coach Rebekah Symank explained, “We are working to all have high-quality literature and topics so we have solid rough drafts. We’re also working to build a culture of constructive feedback where team members share their thoughts and ideas, and we use each coaching session to build better speeches.” 

This year also welcomes several new members to the team. For many, it’s their first time competing in college speech and debate, and they’re eager to learn from their experienced teammates. Anna Schatte, a freshman speech member, said, “Despite being here for only a little while, I already feel like part of the speech and debate family. And I am looking forward to working with my family to perform amazing speeches and using my voice to spread awareness about important issues.”

Benjamin Zapf echoed that sentiment. “ I am eager to learn from my peers about how to make the type of arguments that would be taken seriously in my previous debate league. I never had people to  go to tournaments with and travel with before, so it’s cool to now have teammates to learn from,” he said.

Beyond all the preparations for this upcoming season, what truly sets the team apart is its dynamics. Teammates emphasize not just competition but also camaraderie and support for one another. Josiah Schade, a freshman speech member, explained, “I love everyone on the team. The environment is very competitive but also fun, welcoming, and laid back. Furthermore, the team is set up so that the students can succeed and feel supported which is something I really appreciate.” 

Emma Ford agreed saying, “I feel so happy about this upcoming season. Everyone is so supportive. For example, during my first round of NPDA, I did very badly, but my coach reassured me and told me that I did very badly in [early] high school debate but improved over time, and that the same thing would happen with NPDA.”

As the season begins, Concordia’s Speech & Debate team is stepping forward not only with sharpened skills and new members, but also with a shared commitment: to compete fiercely, support one another deeply, and grow together as both performers and people.

 

Tags: speech, debate, Forensics

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