(Anita) Ranked #1 in the state of Iowa for all classes is the CAM Speech and Debate program.
They hold the top ranking by the National Speech and Debate Association over West Des Moines Valley and Iowa City West. Director Manda Thomas explains that status is derived from a points system based on number of speaking engagements by your members. “CAM, and Anita specifically, has had a very strong program since 1958 when John Burke came to Anita. Cumberland-Massena had a strong program in the 1970’s and 80’s as well. The fact that we are able to continue that tradition that those two schools started that long ago means a lot to all of us coaches.”
Thomas is in her 4th year in charge of the program and is joined by assistants Kirk Callaway and Angie Larson. There are typically between 50-75 students participating each year. “A lot of it is based on our upperclassmen that we have involved. They just recruit. They tell the younger kids this is something that you need to ben doing. This year we had Lane Spieker go and talk to our freshman English classes and speak to the kids about the skills he learned through being a part of our Large Group program. So that helped a lot when the kids were able to see someone that was as successful as Lane is on the football field and basketball court to have that same success in speech.”
Thomas says all of the practice time takes place before or after school, during holiday break, and on the weekends. Last weekend they hosted the District Individual contest and will be sending 25 of their 37 events to the state competition at ADM on March 12th. Thomas says it has been a long time since they’ve had that many entries and that high of a percentage make it to state. “A lot of it is time spent with the kids working on their voice inflections, their rate of speed, facial expressions, some of it is musicality. We have a category full of musical theater so we have to work with making sure they are on pitch. We have to make sure they know and understand the rules so they don’t get a disqualification. It’s a lot of time and energy put into it to make sure our students are successful.”
The program has received several honors this year including Paige Jensen as the first quadruple ruby recipient for reaching 1,000 career points through the National Speech and Debate Association. Bradyn Bohnsack also received a quadruple ruby and is only a sophomore. Coaches Thomas and Callaway have each been recognized by the NSDA with the Distinguished Gold Key Award for their commitment to making other programs successful in Southwest Iowa and across the state.
