Forks High School Speech & Debate Team Shines at Statewide Invitational

Submitted by Tasheena Erickson

FHS English Language Arts

Five members of the Forks High School (FHS) Speech and Debate Team delivered an outstanding performance at the Titan Fall Invitational on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2025, at Union High School in Vancouver, Washington.

The tournament drew strong competition, hosting 12 schools and 102 student competitors from across the state. Accompanied by judges Shelly Martin, Chris Vessey, and advisor Tasheena Erickson, the FHS team spent the day competing in multiple rounds and returned home with top honors.

FHS students earned three first-place finishes at the invitational. Patricia Calderon-Weed captured first place in Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Jlynn Vessey earned first place in Spoken Word Poetry, and Trent Prose took first place in Humorous Interpretation.

Additional competitors included Trentston Pope, who participated in Impromptu Speaking, and Isabella Hayworth, who competed in Novice Spoken Word Poetry, gaining valuable experience at the highly competitive event.

The results mark a significant milestone for the program, which is in its first year. Team members demonstrated not only strong individual performances but also exceptional sportsmanship and support for one another throughout the day.

“This is such an amazing feat for our brand-new team,” Erickson said. “They are all working incredibly hard, and it shows. I am beyond proud of the passion they bring to these events and how they lift each other up during the hard moments and celebrate each other’s successes.”

Erickson added that the students maintained a positive attitude throughout the entire competition and are eager to continue building on their success as they look ahead to future tournaments.

The strong showing at the Titan Fall Invitational highlights a promising start for the FHS Speech and Debate Team and sets high expectations for the season ahead.