Forensics members elevate discourse level with DC exposure

While the West Forensics Team has already had a successful season, there remained one more hill to climb for select members of the team at the NCFL (National Catholic Forensic League) national tournament in Washington D.C. this past weekend. These students punched their ticket to DC by competing at a qualifying tournament,

Science teacher and assistant coach  Logan Martilla described the structure of the process.

“The national competition is specifically for the NCFL bracket within forensics. It is based off of the religious diocese that we’re in, which is pretty interesting,” he said. “We qualify by going to the diocese qualifier and competing like normal. Instead of winning any awards, you qualify to go to the national tournament.” 

Senior Sam Raybern felt the pressure when competing to qualify for the event because of the breadth and strength of other schools.

“That Sunday where you compete to qualify is incredibly selective because you are against some of the hardest, most sophisticated schools in the state,” she said.

This year’s judge, Merriam Tajeddine, having been on the other side of it all, understands this immense pressure put on these students to qualify. 

“I think as a judge it’s really important to give people not only compliments, but I think it’s also really important to give them things to work on because that’s what they’re there for,” she said. “They’re there to perform and they’re there to win, but they’re also there to get better at what they do, and what they love.” 

Although the other qualifiers were intense, senior Annabelle Schmitz found it all worthwhile with the chance to explore and sightsee in a brand new city.

“I’m overall just really excited to walk around because I’ve never been to DC or nationals,” she said. “I didn’t expect to go because I didn’t prepare for it or anything.” 

Schmitz also anticipated seeing other performers from all across the country in order to learn and grow as a public speaker by taking notes of what others do differently.

“I’m looking forward to seeing everyone’s speech because I feel like I won’t see any speeches that I’ve seen before,” she said. “I’m excited to see all of what topics are explored and spoken about.”

Senior Ollie Hardy sees the opportunity as more than just a competition, rather a chance to bond with the teammates that they have competed alongside all season.

“I’m really good friends with my teammates, so it’s kind of going to be like just another vacation with friends and not like a super competition-focused tournament,” they said. “I’m looking forward to a plane ride with my besties.”

For Hardy, forensics has made such an impact that they plan to go further with this path in college. They know it will be a difficult transition, but new opportunities, such as the national competition, will help prepare for this.

“I’ve already decided for sure that I’m going to be joining forensics at the collegiate level, and I’m going to be joining the UW-Eau Claire forensics team,” they said. “The college circuit is definitely very different from the high school circuit and WFCA.” 

Tajeddine looks forward to seeing her former West teammates compete at Nationals. The people she found through forensics have helped her find a safe space where she belongs.

“You can be any race, any religion, and sexuality, any gender, literally anything, and you still find community in forensics,” she said.

by Chloe Lusvardi and Kayden Brandt

Published May 26, 2026

Oshkosh West Index Volume 122 Issue VIII