The 22nd Annual Asheville High Cougar Classic is IN PERSON this year!

Dear Forensic Colleagues:

On behalf of the Asheville High and SILSA Speech and Debate teams, it is my pleasure to invite you to the 22nd annual Asheville High Cougar Classic Speech and Debate tournament to be held on Saturday, November 19th, 2022.

We are pleased to be back in-person for the first time since 2019. On a typical in-person year, this tournament draws over 500 students from a 3-4 state area. So please register your team as soon as possible before spaces fill.

All entries will initially be waitlisted. Entries will be admitted off the waitlist as you meet your judge quota. We have no judges available for hire.

We respectfully ask that only coaches register teams for this tournament. For liability purposes, we also require that a school faculty member or adult approved in writing by the school administration be present with the team and available at all times during the tournament.

Additionally, due to liability issues, we are not able to accept independent entries. Each student must be representing an actual school by name and be registered by an official at that school. Students traveling without a school faculty member must email a letter in advance from their principal giving them permission to do so and listing the school-approved adult who will be in charge.

Please note that we offer both JV and Varsity divisions in debate and congress. JV is defined as anyone in their first two years of competition in ANY speech and debate event. All speech events will be OPEN except for Novice Reading, which is for those in their first year, and Declamation, which is for those in their first two years of experience.

On behalf of our team, our booster club, our parents, and our entire coaching staff, we extend to you a warm invitation to attend the 22nd annual Cougar Classic!

Most sincerely,

Keith Pittman, Director of Forensics | Head Coach
Asheville High School / SILSA Speech and Debate Team

Assistant Coaches:
Novice Coach and Class Teacher: Nick "Monte" Montecalvo
Congressional Debate: Vern Lepa
Lincoln Douglas: Kristy Decker
Public Forum: Jacob Kerber
Speech: Lori Hilliard