Stepping into a room full of Bay Area high school students, you are given a short prompt and told that you will have only two minutes to prepare a five minute speech regarding your opinions on the topic. Your speech then goes through a series of four rounds and assessments from judges along the way. This is impromptu speaking, one of many types of speech  that the Piedmont Speech and Debate team participates in.

Junior Henry Hopcraft said that the Piedmont Speech and Debate Team was founded three years ago by a couple of students who were interested in speech and debate from middle school and had a dream of going to tournaments. Having improved greatly, the team is already off to a successful start this year.

“With everything we’ve learned and all the new people that have come aboard, it’s really been spectacular to watch,” Hopcraft said.

Speech and Debate provides a great opportunity to improve speaking skills and is really applicable to many aspects of life, even those you would never think about, said team president senior Reece James.

“Through giving impromptu speeches I have been able to improve my ability to formulate quick and precise arguments in my timed writes at school and on the SAT,” James said.

The team participates in tournaments that typically last from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and focus on either speech or debate.

The debates draw many competitors from across the area and are a great way to meet new people and step out of your comfort zone, James said.

There are many different tournaments for a variety of speech and debate categories in which students can participate. Debate tournaments can either be student congress, which is individual and modeled off of the United State’s Congress, or public forum (PuFo), which is with a partner. In speech, students can choose from impromptu, original prose and poetry and original oratory.

“There are topics within the speech and debate categories that can be very laid back,” James said. “As a part of the club and team you are not obligated to go to any tournaments but it is suggested.”

At their most recent event, Student Congress, that occurred on Sept. 26, four students were awarded top five finishes in their rooms: James first, sophomore Will Reicher second, Hopcraft third, and junior Bryn Lawson fifth.

“I’m so proud of our team because it’s just our third year and everyone is doing really well and improving a lot,” vice president junior Veronica Wong said.

To hone their speaking and debating skills, the team holds practices on campus Mondays and Wednesdays from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. and at lunch on Fridays.

At an average practice they debate fun and serious topics, or resolutions, to help them prepare for upcoming events, sophomore Tyler Ozsoy said.

“Generally each tournament will have it’s own resolution which often relates to current events, so by studying it you can involve yourself with current issues,” Hopcraft said.

Practices are also a time for group brainstorm sessions where they can discuss and research debate topics, Wong said. While events like Student Congress are done individually, the team works on many arguments collaboratively.

“What you’re saying [at a tournament] is really from a shared foundation and a communal effort,” Hopcraft said.

The team currently has many upcoming tournaments scheduled and hopes to continue to grow in the same way that they have been for the past couple years, Hopcraft said.