Lassiter High School’s Speech and Debate Team has once again proven its excellence, earning top honors at the Georgia Forensic Coaches Association (GFCA) Varsity State Speech and Debate Championship. The team secured the State Championship in Speech Sweepstakes and finished as the State Runner-Up in Overall Sweepstakes, solidifying their place among Georgia’s best.
This remarkable achievement recognizes Lassiter as the top-performing Speech Team in the state and the second-best overall Speech and Debate Team at the prestigious competition.
"Winning the State Speech Sweepstakes Championship and securing the title of State Runner-Up Overall testifies to the dedication to excellence exemplified by the Lassiter Trojans," praised Lassiter English teacher Jonathan Waters, who coaches the debate team along with Social Studies teacher Christina Cazzola. "The students worked tirelessly and committed themselves to the hard work of a long season. Their coaches couldn't be prouder!"
Outstanding Student Achievements
Lassiter’s talented students delivered exceptional performances across multiple categories, bringing home individual state titles and top placements.
State Champions: Emma Rasco – Program of Oral Interpretation Prioska Baruah – Original Oratory
State Runners-Up: Sophia Martin – Program of Oral Interpretation Zarah Scott – Informative Speaking
State Finalists and Semifinalists:
- Zarah Scott – Impromptu Speaking (Finalist)
- Annabel Dutta – Original Oratory (Semifinalist)
- Samuel Lamirand – Original Oratory (Semifinalist)
- Debate Achievements: Adeleine Choi – Lincoln Douglas (Quarterfinalist)
- Madison Kang & Niharika Raman – Public Forum (Quarterfinalists)
Coaching Excellence
Lassiter’s success is a testament to the dedication and leadership of their outstanding coach, Jonathan Waters. His impact on the program was recognized at the state level with two prestigious honors:
- GFCA Speech Coach of the Year
- Induction into the GFCA Hall of Fame
These awards celebrate his unwavering commitment to the team and his role in shaping the next generation of speech and debate champions.
A Legacy of Excellence
Lassiter’s Speech and Debate Team continues to set a high bar for success, demonstrating skill, passion, and dedication in competitive speech and debate. Their remarkable performance at the state championship reflects countless hours of preparation and a culture of excellence fostered by both students and coaches. Congratulations to all Lassiter competitors, Coach Waters, and the entire Speech and Debate Team on this extraordinary achievement!
 Madison Kang & Niharika Raman |  Adeleine Choi |
 Emma Rasco |  Prioska Baruah |
 Sophia Martin |  Zarah Scott |
 Jonathan Waters |  Lassiter Debate Champions |
