On Nov. 8, 2025, the Horizon Honors Speech and Debate team competed at the Empire Invitational tournament in Tucson. The tournament was an all day event, from getting to school at 5:15 a.m. and getting back at 10 p.m. This tournament was special out of the others due to it being speech only. Many members decided to switch to speech events in turn making 12 people who were trying out new events. The Horizon Sun conducted interviews with two groups: the winners and the newest members of the team. 

The Horizon Sun interviewed the winners at the tournament and asked one question to most: What were your reactions to winning? 

The Horizon Sun: What were your reactions to winning?

Ian Mayercek: I was mostly just happy to win, but it wasn’t as special as the first time I placed.

Syd Drowne: I was pleasantly surprised that I had won, and it inspired me to work even harder!

Ainsley Olvey: I was a little tired, and surprised that I placed, but I really just wanted to get the day over with.

Elly Proctor: I was very shocked, and not expecting to place as high as I did.

Abbi Prieto: my reactions were that it was very exciting as it’s when all my hard work and effort paid off.

The Sun asked more in depth questions to Prieto, as she was the first in Horizon Honors Speech and Debate history to get first in a piece. 

The Sun: What does it feel like to be the first in Horizon Honors Speech and Debate history to get first place in a tournament?

AP: It’s definitely really cool because other great people have come and gone and I’m one of them who gets to make and be a part of history for the team.

The Sun: Did you have any struggles with making/performing the piece?

AP: I was having some trouble making my performances consistent. Some rounds I was over time or under time, or I stumbled over some words. 

The Sun: What do you think about projection for the rest of the season regarding you and your team?

AP: I have a really good feeling about this season. These past two tournaments have gone amazing, and I feel like out of my four years of speech and debate this is the strongest our team has ever been. I can’t wait to see what happens next. 

The Horizon Sun also conducted interviews with the new members of the team who competed in Tucson:

The Horizon Sun: What events did you all do? 

Leo Yee: I did Congress.

Marcel DeGraff: I competed under Informative Speeches.

Rishabh Ramakrishnan: I did Dramatic Interpretation and Program Oral Interpretation.

Eliana Alcazar: I did Original Spoken Word (OSW).

The Horizon Sun: What are the rules for each event? 

LY: You’re given a docket and you write speeches on the bills and you either are supporting it or negating it. And you go, you give your speech, people ask you questions, and you have to be very well prepared.

MD: We choose a topic and write about it. We don’t get props however we do get boards that allow us to give the bigger picture with visuals. The basic rules are you have to be clear, accurate, and engaging to the audience.

RR: Dramatic Interpretation is performing a piece without a prop, manuscript, or costume in ten minutes. Program Oral is an event where you take excerpts out of existing literature and combine them to fit a theme.

EA: I write poetry. You have three minutes for you to act out your piece and you have a five minute grace period. 

The Horizon Sun: How do you think you did for all your rounds?

LY: I didn’t feel very well prepared, but I learned a lot of things for next tournament. I got my results back and I did pretty decent in my first round. In my second round, I didn’t have the opportunity to speak as much. 

MD: I think I did really well, compared to the previous event I definitely improved.

RR: I think there was room for improvement.

EA: I think I did decent due to the fact that it was my first time.

The Horizon Sun: Do you think you’ll return to Speech and Debate next year? 

LY: Yes!

MD: Absolutely! I enjoy the sport as well as the community and the environment. I’ll probably do this for the next three years. 

RR: Yes, I 100% would try out for the team next year.

EA: I plan on doing it next year.

The Horizon Sun wishes the entire Speech and Debate team luck in all of their future tournaments.