Coach Kerrington Anderson.

Arriving at N.R Burger middle, Coach KJ did not expect to be participating, competing, or coaching Speech and Debate. Coach KJ has been blessed with the opportunity to be a multiple time  National Finalist and National Champion. Coach KJ had the opportunity to compete at William Carey University. While at William Carey, Coach KJ began to work with high school competitors on competition material. After college, Coach KJ has had the pleasure of being the Coach for St. Andrew’s Speech and Debate team and is now the Director of Speech and Debate at Vines High School. Coach KJ is the founder of True Champion Coaching Academy. Coach KJ believes all competitors have the ability to succeed in this acti vity. This activity has given Coach KJ lifelong memories, friends, and opportunities. His goal is for every student who experiences True Champion Coaching Academy to have that same experience and opportunity.

 

Coach Caitlyn Woitena:

 Coach Caitlyn has been competing since the 7th grade. While competing for J Frank Dobie High School in Houston Texas, Caitlyn was the State Champion in Texas, National Champion at the TOC and 7th at NSDA Dramatic Interpretation. Caitlyn decided for college that she would compete for Western Kentucky University. While Competing at the Collegiate NFAtournament, Caitlyn became a National Finalist in multiple events. In 2023, Coach Caitly became the Runner Up In Prose Interpretation. Coach Caitlyn believes in empowering the next generation and getting them to understand that their voice matters and it should be heard.  We are excited to have Coach Caitlyn a part of the True Champion Coaching Academy.  After graduating this year, Coach Caitlyn has decided to take her talents to Deer Park High School located in Houston, Texas.

•  ASC National Champion in Duo Interpretation (2023)

• ACS National Champion in Dramatic Interpretation (2022)

• National Forensics Association National Runner Up in Prose Interpretation (2023)

• American Forensics Association National Finalist Prose Interpretation (2022/2023)

• American Forensics Association National Finalist in Crit (2022/2023)

• American Forensics Association National Finalist in Persuasive Speaking (2022/2023)

• American Forensics Association National Finalist in Duo Interpretation (2022/2023)

• National Forensics Association National Finalist in Prose Interpretation (2022/2023)

• National Forensics Association National Finalist in Dramatic Interpretation (2022/2023)

• National Forensics Association National Finalist in Prose Interpretation (2022/2023)

 

Coach Derek:

 Derek Collins began competing in speech and debate in the 7th grade. In highschool Derek competed as a member of the Hattiesburg High School Forensics team, where he was a 6 time state champion and the Magnolia District Student of the Year. During his collegiate career, Derek was the recipient of 6 National Championships.

 Derek believes that every competitor is a champion soon as they sign up for this activity. The skills that this activity has to offer is limitless. The work ethic, passion, and dedication will decide what level of a Champion that you will be in this activity. It is a pleasure to have Derek Collins as the Curriculum Coordinator for the True Champion Coaching Academy faculty.

• National Forensics Association National Champion in Individual Sweepstakes (2021)

• American Forensics Association National Runner-Up in Individual Sweepstakes (2021)

• American Forensics Association All-American (2021)

• American Forensics Association National Champion in Duo Interpretation (2021)

• American Forensics Association National Runner-Up in Communication Analysis (2021)

• American Forensics Association National Runner-Up in Poetry Interpretation (2021)

• National Forensics Association National Champion in Duo Interpretation (2021)

• National Forensics Association National Champion in Rhetorical Criticism (2021)

• American Forensics Association National Champion in Informative Speaking (2019)

• American Forensics Association National Champion in Communication Analysis (2019)

• American Forensics Association Runner-Up in Duo Interpretation (2019)

• National Speech and Debate Association Champion in Duo Interpretation (2017)

• National Speech and Debate Association Bama Bowl Recipient (2017)

 

 

Coach Ryan:

Ryan Gosling founder and CEO of the Ryan Gosling Forensics Project (RGFP) has been competing in forensics since his sophomore year of high school. After meeting much high school and collegiate success in multiple national individual event championships and out rounds, Ryan decided to turn his attention to cultivating the next generation of forenscinators. Since RGFP’s inception Ryan has coached the  2020-21 NSDA Champion in P.O.I  (Sophia Williams) and the Current reigning Collegiate P.O.I Champion. Ryan acknowledges “ True Champion coaching is not about access to inequitable means to personally written material or access to the “Perfect Script or Performance”, it’s about showcasing your heart and truly committing to perform the intersection of advocacy and artistry. We are so blessed to have Coach Ryan a part of our True Championship Coaching Academy faculty.

 

• National Forensics Association National Champion - Program Oral Interpretation ( 2021)

• American Forensics Association National Champion - Poetry (2021)

• National Forensics Association National Champion - Duo Interpretation ( 2021)

• American Forensics Association National Champion - Duo Interpretation (2021)

• American Forensics Association National Runner-up - Duo Interpretation (2021) American Forensics Association National Runner-up - Program Oral Interpretation (2021)

• National Forensics Association National Runner - up - Duo Interpretation ( 2021) National Forensics Association National Finalist - Poetry ( 2021)

• National Forensics Association National Finalist - Duo Interpretation ( 2019) National Forensics Association National Finalist - Duo Interpretation ( 2019)

 

 

Coach Shields

Coach Shields believes that speech and debate can create transformative and productive change in the lives of young people.  Turning brilliant or obscure ideas into a beautiful, succinct package is not only what this activity calls for, but is a portable skill for life.  Speech and Debate not only trains professional careers, but empowers students to turn their ideas into something tangible.

 

Shields started his career in the 9th grade at St. Joseph Catholic School in MS. After winning multiple local/state titles, he attended Ripon College to earn his BA in Communication.  During his time at Ripon, Shields was Wisconsin State Champion in Impromptu, Poetry, Duo, and POI.  He also cleared to late elimination rounds at the National Forensics Association Tournament in Duo and Rhetorical Criticism.

 

After graduation, Shields served as the assistant coach at St. Andrew's Episcopal School.  During that time, he coached multiple national finalists.  At the NCFL Grand National Tournament he has coached finalists in Declamation and LD Debate.  At the Kentucky Tournament of Champions, he coached the National Champion in LD Debate and semi-finalists in Informative and Oral Interpretation of Literature.  At the National

 

See Our Coaches Create Champions!