Speech & Debate Team
On Sunday, May 5, 2025, our Speech and Debate team competed at Newton South High School in a tournament that brought together over 405 students across 14 different speech categories, and our students delivered outstanding performances!
We are proud to share the following achievements:
- Brooklyn Veira earned 1st place in Dramatic Performance and 2nd place in Storytelling
- Alex Mazelli placed 6th in Demonstration
- Joey Haskell earned an impressive 1st place in Demonstration
- Leah Garis brought home 6th place in Original Literature
Congratulations to all of our team members for their dedication, creativity, and excellence. Your hard work continues to make our school proud!
- Brooklyn Veira placed 3rd, and Amiah Hassan placed 7th in Dramatic Performance.
- Brooklyn Veira and JR teamed up to earn 6th place in Team Improv.
- Jesus Munuz also received a special certificate recognizing him as the Top Novice in Demonstration.
- Joey Haskel earned an impressive 2nd place in Demonstration.
- Leah Garis brought home 1st place in Original Literature, showcasing her talent and originality.
Congratulations to all of our team members for their dedication, creativity, and excellence. Your hard work truly paid off, and we’re so proud of you!
- Brooklyn Veira also took 3rd place in Dramatic Interpretation, with Amiyah Hasan earning 7th place and Mia Soares receiving an Honorable Mention in the same category.
- In Demonstration Speaking, Joseph Haskell impressed the judges and took home 2nd place.
- In Original Literature, there is a big cheer for Leah Garis, who earned 3rd place for her powerful writing.
• Joseph Haskel – 1st place demonstration received Honorable Mention
• Leah Garis – 2nd place Original Literature
• Brooklyn Vieira and her partner Clara Brennan - 7th grade – received 8th place in the DUO
• Alex Mazelli – 6th grade received 8th Place Demonstration
• Crisangel Guante and Brooklyn Vieira - won their first debate of the season
• Amiyah Hasan – 7th grade received 8th place Dramatic Interpretation
• lenyx Desrosiers-7th place Demonstration
The Joseph Martin School Speech and Debate team proudly represented our school at the Shrewsbury Middle School Novice Tournament. This exciting event brought together more than 12 schools and featured an impressive 121 student entries across 11 challenging categories.
They competed well and gave it their best effort. The team is already looking ahead to the next tournament, which will take place on January 26 at Pike Prep School. A special highlight of the day was Jonathan DePina's incredible achievement in the Original Oratory category. Jonathan not only crafted a speech titled "The ABC's of a Broken School System," but he also delivered it to the judges and earned a well-deserved first-place finish. Congratulations, Jonathan, on this outstanding accomplishment
Woodchucks Compete at Milton Academy - November 17, 2024
The Joseph Martin School Speech and Debate team had an outstanding showing Sunday at Milton Academy, competing in the Massachusetts Middle School Speech and Debate League’s tournament. With more than nine schools, 100+ student entries, and 11 challenging categories, the event was packed with talent—but our Woodchucks held their own!
Even in this highly competitive setting, where only first-place finishers received awards, our team earned several impressive 3rd and 4th place finishes. A special shoutout to our first-place champions:
🌟 Allaunah Cucthall - 1st Place in Original Literature
🌟 Joey Haskell - 1st Place in Demonstration
We couldn’t be prouder of the entire team for their hard work, dedication, and sportsmanship.
Good luck as we prepare for our next Saturday, December 7 tournament. Let’s keep striving for greatness!
Go Woodchucks! 🐾
Woodchucks Compete at "Foley Speech Festival” - April 28, 2024
The Joseph Martin School Speech and Debate team competed at Milton Academy hosted by the Massachusetts Middle School Speech and Debate League. This was a highly competitive tournament with more than eleven schools and over 300 student entries in 17 speech categories. Competing schools included Lexington Public Schools, Newton Public Schools, Milton Academy and Pike Preparatory School. The Martin Woodchucks continue to make a great name for themselves in the speech and debate world.
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- Joseph Haskell: 7th grade, (team SHINE) received 2nd place Demonstration
- Brooklyn Vieira 6th grade, (team ACE) received Honorable Mention in Dramatic Interpretation
- Brody Buckley: 7th grade (team Pride) received 6th place in Dramatic Interpretation
- Leah Garis: 7th Grade, (team PRIDE) received 7th place in Demonstration
- Clara Brennan: 6th grade, (team ACE) received 7th place in Storytelling
- Amiyah Hasan: 6th grade, (team PRO) received 5th place Dramatic Interpretation
- Ester Derogene (team sun), Amari Rodrigues (team sun), Liam Peixoto (team zen), Valerie Ruiz (team sun) and Ayva Hammond (team JOY) participated as 5th graders.
We are especially proud of the Martin team because of the high level of competition. Our participants not only excelled but exceeded all expectations. The recognition and medals earned reflect positively on our students and our school. We are very proud of the outstanding accomplishments and the entire school community should share in this proud moment.
The Joseph Martin School Speech and Debate team competed at the Oak Middle School in Newton hosted by the Massachusetts Middle School Speech and Debate League. This was a highly competitive tournament with more than eleven schools and over 400 student entries in 17 different speech categories. This is the first time that we had three first-place finishers in different categories. The Martin Woodchucks continue to make a great name for themselves in the speech and debate world.
- Joseph Haskell: 7th grade, Team Shine received 5th place Demonstration
- Brooklyn Vieira and her partner Crisangel Guante, 6th grade ( Team ACE) remained undefeated in debate and received another medal
- Alaunah Cutchall-: 7th grade, Team Shine is the Spring Fling Champion in Haiku
- Leah Garis: 7th Grade, Team Pride Team Shine is the Spring Fling Champion in Demonstration
- Alaina Rogers: 6th grade, Team Pro received 6th place in Demonstration
Congratulations to all the speech and debate members. We wish the team luck at their next tournament at Milton Academy on April 28.
Woodchucks Compete at Pike Prep School in Andover- February 11, 2024
The Joseph Martin School Speech and Debate team competed at the Pike Prep School hosted by the Massachusetts Middle School Speech and Debate League. More than nine schools competed with over 230 student entries in 11 categories. The Martin Woodchucks remain very competitive in the speech and debate world:
- Leah Garis – 7th Grade, Team Pride received 2nd place in Demonstration
- Amiyah Hasan- 6th grade, team pro received 5th place Dramatic Interpretation
- Brooklyn Vieira and her partner Crisangel Guante,( Team ACE) debated as a team and won a medal
- Brooklyn Vieira also won 8th place in Dramatic Performance
- Crisangel Guante also won an honorable mention for Impromptu speaking
Congratulations to all the speech and debate members. We wish the team luck at the next tournament on April 7, 2024, at Charles E. Brown Middle School in Newton.
Woodchucks Compete at Shrewsbury Tournament- February 4, 2024
The Joseph Martin School Speech and Debate team competed at the Sherwood Middle School in Shrewsbury hosted by the Massachusetts Middle School Speech and Debate League. More than eight schools competed with over 180 student entries in 11 categories. The Martin Woodchucks continue to make a great name for themselves in the speech and debate world.
- Sophia Alves: 7th grade, team PRIDE received an honorable mention in Dramatic Interpretation
- Mia Soares-: 6th grade, Team Pro received an honorable mention in Dramatic Interpretation
- Leah Garis: 7th Grade, Team Pride received 2nd place in Demonstration
- Joseph Haskell: 7th grade, Team Shine received 1st place Demonstration
- Brody Buckley: 7th grade team Pride received 6th place in Dramatic Interpretation
- Clara Brennan: 6th grade, team ACE received 8th place in Storytelling
- Ally Costa: 6th grade, team PRO received 9th Free Verse /Poetry
- Amiyah Hasan: 6th grade, team pro received 5th place Dramatic Interpretation
- Cali Lopes: 6th grade, Team GEM received 6th place in Children’s Literature
Congratulations to all the speech and debate members. We wish the team luck at their next tournament next Sunday at Pike Preparatory School in Andover
