Immaculate Heart’s Speech and Debate Team is continuing its success this year after launching a new season and welcoming a new coach.

(photo courtesy of Callie Webb/Immaculate Heart High School)

Junior Danielle Dosch recently qualified for the Tournament of Champions (TOC), a competitive national tournament held each spring in Kentucky. Dosch earned her first tournament bid by advancing to the quarterfinals at the Meadows Invitational in Las Vegas. She garnered her second bid at the recent Alta Invitational in Utah, where she was a quarterfinalist and 11th place speaker.

In recent league competition, junior Mia Speier went undefeated in the Varsity Lincoln-Douglas Debate and placed second at the Western Bay Forensic League (WBFL) Tournament at Narbonne High School. Senior Daniela Elizondo won a majority of her rounds and received a medal, and sophomore Emma Lehtonen was undefeated in Novice L-D, earning second place in the event.

In November, the team won the second place sweepstakes at the WBFL Congress at Torrance High School, and senior Cameron Hendrickson received two first-place awards. Other students recognized were Elizondo, who had a first- and second-place finish; Speier, who had a first-place finish; Lehtonen, who placed second; junior Ariana Diaz, who received a silver medal of superiority; and sophomore Chelina Rhee, who was awarded a bronze medal of excellence.

Pictured are Dosch (left), Speier and Lehtonen.

Immaculate Heart alumna Ellen Ivens-Duran is the new coach of the Speech & Debate Team. Ivens-Duran is a member of Immaculate Heart’s Class of 2012 and a former debater for her alma mater. She returned to campus this year as an academic enrichment counselor and head coach of the Speech & Debate Team. David Dosch returned as assistant coach.

“Being back at Immaculate Heart is such a gift,” Ivens-Duran said. “I have the opportunity to watch IH students grapple with important issues and practice both competitive and cooperative skills. I’m excited to see what this year brings to the team.”

Immaculate Heart educates young women in the 6th through 12th grades. The school is located at 5515 Franklin Ave. For information, call (323)461-3651, or visit www.immaculateheart.org.