November 2025
Easier-to-read MailChimp version here: https://mailchi.mp/d2dd9eb664fd/coachs-november-newsletter
Happy fall, y’all!
I am so glad that we’re in a season of (slightly) cooler weather!
As we're getting to the end of the fall semester (can you believe it?), I have some reminders about deadlines, events, and more, so please read and send any questions you have to my email!
Big Reminders:
Please pay dues!!
Novices (1st year debaters) must compete in 3 tournaments during the school year. We have 4 remaining competitions for novices to attend:
Rouse, on Saturday, November 15th (sign-ups are due on Friday night at 10pm)
McCallum, on Saturday, November 22nd (sign-ups are due on Friday, November 14th)
Dripping Springs, on Saturday, December 13th (sign-ups are due on Friday, December 5th)
McNeil, on Saturday, January 17th (sign-ups are due on Friday, January 9th)
Varsity debate students must compete in 5 tournaments over the school year. They can attend all of the above tournaments and are also eligible to apply for spring travel competitions!
Dues Payment Options:
PayPal - @AHSSpeechDebate
Check addressed to “Debate Boosters” and sent to school with your student or mailed to Anderson - 8403 Mesa Dr, Austin, TX, 78759
October Success Spotlight:
Westlake
Speech:
Alexis advanced to Humorous Interpretation finals and placed 3rd
Klein and Rebecca advanced to finals of Congress
Ilan, Vincent, Lizzy, Zay, and Darwin all advanced to novice semis!
Michael and Lael advanced to semis of U.S. Extemp (USX)
Klein placed 6th in USX
Lucie placed 2nd in USX
Zoe placed 1st in USX and earned her state qualification!
Rebecca placed 6th in International Extemp
Debate:
Rosemary and Parker advanced to PF Semis!
The team of Atticus, Lucy, Talia, and Omar advanced to World Schools Debate (WSD) semis!
The team of Elena, Salome, and Schaefer advanced to finals in WSD and placed first! They did not lose a single round at this tournament.
Lucy was the 3rd-highest-ranked speaker in WSD
Atticus was the 1st highest-ranked speaker
Hays
First, a HUGE thank you to Danor Padden for chaperoning this group!
Alexis advanced to Humorous Interp finals and placed 1st!!
Mads and Noble advanced to the quarter finals of PF and earned their first state point
Rosemary and Parker advanced to the finals of PF and earned their state qualification!!
Team Bonding
Thank you to the Russell family for hosting our team bonding on October 25th! Students painted pumpkins, ate snacks (leftover from the Trojan Classic!) and had fun wearing costumes and spending time with their teammates.
November Events
11/15 - Rouse
Local tournament in Leander, TX. Open to everyone!
We will be carpooling to this tournament and will need a few drivers to help us get students safely to and from Leander! We also need a few parent judges so please reach out if you can volunteer.
11/22 - McCallum
Local tournament right down the road! Open to everyone!
Sign-up closes on Friday, November 14th.
We will be carpooling to this tournament and will need a few drivers to help us get students safely to and from McCallum! We will likely also need a few parent judges so please reach out if you can volunteer.
December Events
12/5-7 - Longhorn Classic/UT
This is a national circuit (TOC) tournament with limited entries.
Coach Prather will be solo chaperoning this competition. More info will be sent out to students attending!
12/12-13 - Dripping Springs Tiger Tussle
Local in Dripping Springs, TX! Open to everyone!
Friday night will be varsity debate and extemp online. Saturday will be in-person at DSHS and everyone will compete.
We will be taking a bus to Dripping Springs, since it's so far from our neighborhood and I anticipate a big turnout! Students will not be allowed to drive themselves unless they have explicit, written parental permission. We will likely also need some judges for this competition!
Sign-ups are due on Friday, December 5th!
Varsity Members are eligible to apply for National Circuit and Travel Tournaments!
The families of students will be expected to cover costs for travel. For in-state tournaments, families will pay their share of hotel rooms and car rentals. For out-of-state tournaments, students are expected to cover those costs and their own flights. The booster club fundraises to help cover the costs of students needing financial aid for travel! If that's needed, students or parents should reach out to Coach Contreras to discuss that need.
Students can find the Google Form applications on Blend and Slack.
Application deadlines:
Churchill (1/9-11) - today, November 7th
Emory (1/22-26) - today, November 7th
Bellaire (2/6-8) - Friday, January 9th
Harvard (2/13-18) - Friday, November 14th
Get involved!
We will need judges at Rouse on November 15th, McCallum on November 22nd, and Dripping Springs on December 12th and 13th. Please reach out to Coach Contreras via email if you are interested in helping fulfill our judging obligations.
Thanks so much for reading! Wish our students competing in the virtual Bowie Swing this weekend luck, encourage your students to sign up for Rouse, McCallum, and Dripping Springs, and happy fall!
Coach El
el.contreras@austinisd.org