The Prince George High School Forensics Club, a club dedicated to public speaking, came away from the Hopewell Forensics Invitational with several victories. Overall, the club placed second in the small school division. Individually, senior

Adam Blakemore took first place in ‘impromptu speaking,’ and sophomore Kameron Sullivan was a finalist in ‘storytelling.’

The Hopewell Invitational was a forensics competition open to teams from all over Virginia. The PGHS Forensics Club’s success was reflective of their amount of preparation, despite how unconventional it is.

“I’m free to prepare for the competition however I see fit. I enjoy complete freedom,” Blakemore said. “I even get to choose which categories I compete in, or whether I compete at all.”

Blakemore’s category of choice is ‘impromptu speaking,’ which requires the speaker to be quick on their feet. The speaker is given seven minutes to prepare a speech after receiving a random topic, which is then delivered in front of a panel of judges.

“I usually spend two to three minutes writing and use the rest of the time to get comfortable with talking,” Blakemore said. “But you’re free to spend your seven minutes however you see fit.”

Blakemore’s methods for impromptu speaking have produced positive results for him in the past, and he thinks they will continue to do so, but he wants to keep improving.

“I placed first in the district competition last year, but the regional competition was on an entirely different level. I didn’t even place,” Blakemore said. “I’m definitely aiming to place this year.”

However, before they tackle these challenges, the team has another invitational to compete in, as club sponsor Beth Andersen explained.

“The team is competing in another competition in January,” Andersen said. “It’s the New Kent Invitational, hosted by New Kent High School, of course.”

Andersen is optimistic about the PGHS Forensics Club’s upcoming competitions.

“After the New Kent Invitational, we’re focusing on the conference* competition and the regional competition afterwards,” Andersen said. “And hopefully even the state competition as well.”

*The Virginia High School League has renamed the competition that precedes the regional one from ‘district’ to ‘conference’ after realigning school districts throughout Virginia. This went into effect this year, which is why Andersen refers to the conference competition and not the district competition.