Speech and Debate is a dynamic matrix of students scurrying around to write text, memorize pieces, and polish performances for competition. Behind the flurry of activity, lies an organized structure kept in place by the program’s biggest supporters: the coaches.
Volunteer Speech and Debate Coach Danny Stottlemyre is new to the coaching team this year. Stottlemyre, known as Stott, has battled the loss of his wife; through the growing Speech and Debate program, he has reclaimed his drive to live passionately.
“It was devastating, and I couldn’t do anything. So, finally, one day I just decided, ‘I’ve got to get my life back.’ I’ve got to get back to life. I’ve got to get back to Speech. So I met with Mr. Brooks, and we talked, and he invited me to come on board as a volunteer,” Stottlemyre said.
The Speech and Debate program is a meticulous group that is attracting new members, largely thanks to the staff’s continuous dedication to expand the program. The club has grown from six students at the first tournament in 2022 to over eighty participants in total today. With the growing interest, head coach Patrick Brooks needed help.
“The story of how this [growth] came to be really is in large part due to the administration’s vision for this program, as well as mine,” Brooks said.
Even though Brooks is the ring leader of Speech and Debate, he can’t lead the show alone.
“There’s a lot of people in the deep background of this, than the higher-up background of this, that have to say yes in order for this program to look the way it looks,” Brooks said.
Thanks to approval from the Rolla Public School (RPS) administration, assistant coach Frannie Lowrey was officially onboarded to the staff. Lowrey has been coaching Speech and Debate for the better part of five years, the last two in Rolla. She works together with her fellow coaches to divide and conquer the sea of students.
“We all bring different aspects to the table. We all have different brains. Everyone thinks differently. So we all see things differently. So I might listen to a speech and Ms. Rowland [another volunteer coach] might listen to a speech and we might have different feedback, but it’s feedback that the student needs. They need all of it,” Lowrey said.
Each staff member offers one-on-one advice and support for the students. They also learn through the students’ pieces and by giving feedback.
“My favorite part about coaching is hearing the topics that students come up with, because some people pick things that I would have never thought to talk about,” Lowrey said.
Speech and Debate is famous for its long nights and intense tournaments. Through the students, the program thrives.
“These kids, they’re so willing to work. They’re driven, they’re smart. I couldn’t ask for anything more,” Stottlemyre said.
After his personal loss, Stottlemyre used his love of speech to find the good in his life.
“I feel like this opportunity has given me my life back. After I lost my wife—I had been her primary caregiver for three years before she died—I was beyond grief-struck,” Stottlemyre said.
Stottlemyre’s passion has been reawakened thanks to the help of everyone involved with Speech and Debate. He is especially passionate about the intersection of text and performance.
“My favorite thing about this is teaching kids how to interpret literature, teaching them how to convey verbally what they’re reading,” Stottlemyre said.
To Stottlemyre, speech isn’t just memorizing a script; it’s about painting a picture with words. Speech is all about making script come to life with tone, gestures, cadence, and more.
Intentionality is the key to get through debate (and life). Stottlemyre leaves off with a piece of advice applicable to any performance.
“You have to be passionate. You have to be driven. And to be successful, you have to be willing to work as many hours as it takes,” Stottlemyre said.
