O’Connor Speech and Debate

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!

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!

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!

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

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

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!

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!

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enjoying a wonderful day of competition at the Dripping Springs Tiger Tussle! Go Panthers! @OCRobMartinez @NISDOConnorHS @dshsdebate

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