Ask any member of the Lake Orion High School Forensics Team what they have learned from the program, and they will tell you self-confidence, better public speaking skills and better verbal communication.
These skills will help the kids throughout their lives, but future forensics team members could miss out if the program is unable to return next year due to the district cutting their budget.
Forensics refers to competitive speech and drama, with students competing in different categories such as sales, poetry and oratory. Coach Melissa Robertson, a teacher at Waldon Middle School, has been involved with the high school team for six years, and coach Rob Middleton, a LOHS teacher, has been involved for seven.
The team gained confidence in recent years sending students to the state tournament.This year the team boasts a state champion in freshman Julia Sabo and a member competing in the national tournament, being held in Salt Lake City June 13-18, in senior Ian Spear.
Sabo won at Eastern Michigan University on May 1-2 after only one year on the team, becoming the first LOHS student to become state champion, placing first in her category of poetry.
Spear, with three years on the team, is the first from LOHS to qualify for the national tournament, and the only one from the Metro Detroit area to qualify this year.
Kristin Limback, also a member of the team, made it to the state tournament this year in her category of sales.
The team competes in six regular season tournaments, and then a district, regional, state and end-of-the-year tournament. Robertson said six years ago the team had their first student to make it to the state competition.
‘Now we have the state champion,? she said, explaining that the state and national tournament are run by different forensics associations.
‘They have nothing to do with each other,? she said. ‘Julie did forensics while she was at Waldon.?
Oakview Middle School also has a program, with five eighth-graders who currently wish to join the LOHS team next year.
Middleton said that might be a problem if donations are not found to replace budget money they will no longer receive from the district.
‘I’ve talked to kids at the high school who weren’t involved this year, who want to be on the team next year,? he said. ‘As soon as they get hit with pay to play, I can see the team tanking.?
With 21 members this year, the team costs about $4,000 each year to run. The team has held fundraisers every year to supplement the money they receive from the district, but will rely entirely on fundraisers and donations next year.
‘Pay to play is $50 per kid, maybe, and that won’t even come close (to the budget),? said Robertson. ‘We’d have to charge $600 per kid to keep going.?
According to Robertson, much of the team’s money is eaten up by tournament registration fees and judges? costs.
‘The kids think it will just be fine; they don’t believe they won’t have a team next year,? she added.
‘I don’t want to make the district out to be the bad guy, because they were faced with some tough choices.?
‘This used to be a huge budget for a handful of kids,? Middleton said. ‘The team has grown, and could be bigger next year…they’re developing skills not always nurtured in the classroom.?
Robertson said public speaking is a fear many Americans have, but forensics is helping students get over that fear before they move on to train for a career.
‘It’s a great network for the kid,? she added. ‘They meet a lot of kids from other schools.?
Spear got involved with the team because he had Middleton as a speech teacher.
‘It was fun,? he said. ‘I’m a little nervous (about the national tournament), but I’m more excited at being able to go. It’s an honor.?
Spear will be speaking in front of a much larger crowd than the 200 or so people he is used to.
‘I’m going to the University of Michigan next year, pre-med, and I plan to do forensics there,? he said.
‘It sounded fun and I needed to improve my confidence for choir,? said Sabo.
‘I was completely shocked (at getting state champion). It was so tough…these people are amazing.?
Both hope the team will find a way to continue next year.
‘A lot of people have found their niche, and it’s forensics,? Sabo said. ‘I’ve changed so much.?
‘It’s skills that can carry you through life,? said Spear. ‘Like for job interviews.?
The team is looking for corporate sponsorships and donations from the community to keep going for next year.
‘Maybe if someone did this in school, they might want to help,? said Robertson. ‘Julie’s writing a letter that we’re going to send out to area businesses.?
The team will also have a bake sale at Sam’s Club sometime this summer.
Anyone wishing to help the team can contact Robertson at Waldon Middle School, 391-1100, ext. 4622, or Middleton at LOHS after 1 p.m., 693-5420.