U-High Forensics

Tell your friends at Normal West!!

Upcoming IHSA Speech Team Info night this week for Normal West students interested in joining and learning about the various competition events.

Are you passionate about speaking your mind or performing? Want to boost your communication skills, build confidence, meet new friends, and compete against other schools? Then the Speech & Debate Team is for YOU!

Whether you're into acting, persuasive speaking, current events, or original writing, there's a category that fits your unique voice. You'll develop powerful skills in public speaking, critical thinking, and performance — all while having fun and representing your school at competitions!

No experience necessary — just bring your energy, curiosity, and willingness to grow.

Flexible practice schedule with competitions on Saturdays.

Reach out to [email protected] for questions.

Join us for our first full debate meeting this week to learn more about debate! We will celebrate last year’s win at the IDC State Championship by viewing the state final. All are welcome!

We will have a short business meeting for both speech AND debate from 3-3:15, then roll right into the debate meeting!

3-4 in Room 246!

We’ll have our initial interest meeting THIS Monday at 3:00 in Room 246! All are welcome. There is no experience required to join our highly accomplished team! We will teach you everything you need to know 🙂.

Team members - spread the word! There won’t be announcements on Monday, so we’re operating on word-of-mouth!

Uhigh! It’s not too late to join us for camp! Come learn about speech and debate! Tell your friends! Attendance is not a commitment - instead, we’ll focus on team building, learning what speech and debate are all about, and confidence-building!

New members: If you want to attend but can’t get the form mailed in, just email Ms Hoffman at [email protected]! Returning members: check last year’s Remind!

We hope to see you soon!

The Pioneers have arrived at our overnight stop in WV! Tomorrow we will head to Richmond to check into Nats 2026!

Hey everyone! Our annual Trivia Night is less than a week away! Please RSVP so that we know you're coming, even if you don't have all of your team details together yet!!

This is our BIGGEST fundraiser of the year. We hope to see you there!

Here is the signup form:

Trivia Night Sign-Up! Hello everyone from the University HS Speech and Debate team! We are SO EXCITED to welcome you to our annual TRIVIA NIGHT and Silent Auction! Date: Friday April 24, 2026 Time: First Question will begin at 6:15 PM *Please show up by 6:00 to check your team in and decorate your table! Location: Univer...

Congratulations to the UHigh Debate team who competed at the IDC Varsity State Debate Championship this weekend! We are so proud to announce that UHigh is the Varsity Public Forum Champion for the third year in a row! Special congratulations to Tim and Connor for winning the final round on a 4-1 decision!! The squad also brought home a variety of speaking awards and break rounds. Full results below:

Pro Con Debate Challenge
Quarterfinalist: Siya Jagani

Lincoln-Douglas All State Team
10th: Shreya Patel

Lincoln-Douglas
Octofinalist: Yelena Shang

Public Forum All State Team
7th: Tessa Reisinger
9th: Elaine Ding

Public Forum
Champions: Connor Duncan and Tim Park
Quarter finalists: Vi Nadiger and Hash Vinothasha
Quarter finalists: Elaine Ding & Tessa Reisinger

We always say that debate is a team activity, and these students never fail to show up for each other and remind us just how true that is. Their coaches are so overwhelmingly proud of their season, and for the seniors, their debate careers. Go U! 🙌 💚 💛

The UHigh Debate team had a great day at JV/Novice Debate State! Congratulations to all who competed! Yelena Shang is the IDC JV State Lincoln-Douglas CHAMPION, and the tournament’s top speaker! Elaine Ding and Tessa Reisinger are the runners up in JV Public Forum, with Elaine earning 8th speaker and Tessa placing 4th! Finally, Amulya Kadiyala and Siya Jagani are tournament Octafinalists in the novice division. Congratulations, Pioneers!!

Congratulations to the Pioneers, who qualified SIX EVENTS to the IHSA State Tournament! Special congratulations to Ellis Zimmerman, who won DI!

Sectionals is a tough day for so many of us, and it’s especially difficult when your team takes on the extra duty of hosting. These kids, whether final ranks went their way or not, were absolute rockstars all season, and especially this week. Their coaches are so, so proud. 💚💛

Thank you, too, to all of the parents, colleagues, coaches, students, and debaters who helped set up, tear down, time, sell concessions, provide hospitality lounges, etc. We are so grateful to you.

Final results below:
DI: 1st and advancing to State: Ellis Zimmerman
Extemp: 3rd and advancing to State: Disha Karthik
HDA: 4th: Katie Aitken and Henry Young
Info: 3rd and advancing to State: Mahi Ganta
DEC: 4th: Soumya Boyina
Oratory: 3rd and advancing to State: Lila Grace Bardwell
PIR: 6th: Lily, Brynn, Aditi, Audrey, Disha, Siri, Elaine, Luke, Tire, and Ana
Poetry: 6th: Suhn Kaeb
Prose: 5th: Ellis Zimmerman
Radio: 2nd and advancing to State: Will Miller
SOS: 3rd and advancing to State: Reith Kohli

Congratulations to the Pioneer Speech Team for an amazing showing at Regionals! They won first place as a team, and advanced EVERY EVENT to this weekend’s Sectional tournament! Special congratulations go out to these tournament champions: Mahi Ganta (Info), Ellis Zimmerman (DI AND Prose), Katie Aitken (HDA AND HI) and Henry Young (HDA)! We have lots of kids not pictured here, so below is the full list!

Advancing entries include:
🎭 Dana & Ollie in DDA
🎭 Ellis in DI & Prose
📝 Disha K in EXT and IMP
🎭 Katie in HDA and HI
🎭 Henry in HDA
🗣️ Mahi in Info
🗣️ Soumya in DEC
🎭 Connor in OC
🗣️ Lila Grace in Oratory
📖 Suhn in Poetry
🎤 Will in Radio
🗣️ Reith in SOS
🎭 Lily, Brynn, Elaine, Luke, Disha R, Siri, Ana, Tire, Audrey, and Aditi in PIR