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Mooney speech team hits 50th milestone
By Denise Dick
YOUNGSTOWN
Cardinal Mooney High School’s Speech and Debate Team marked a golden milestone this summer.
The National Speech and Debate Association earlier this month recognized the school for attending its 50th National Speech and Debate Tournament.
It’s the first Mahoning Valley school to achieve that standard, and just three others in Ohio have surpassed the 50 mark: Wooster with 64 and Canton McKinley and Dayton Oakwood with 58 and 57, respectively.
Diane Mastro Nard, forensic director from 1985 until 2004, who remains a faculty adviser and coach, attributed the long- running success to commitment.
“It’s the commitment of the coaches and the teachers and the alumni and of the administration that lets it work — that and encouraging parents,” she said.
Her classroom is filled with team trophies collected through the years, and plaques decorate the walls. Among them are Mastro Nard’s six Diamond Coach Awards from the National Speech and Debate Association, presented for excellence and longevity in coaching.
She displays them with pride.
“They’re my only vanity,” the head of Mooney’s English department said.
Speech coaches don’t devote the time and effort they do because of the money. Often they give up that small sum for their team.
Denny Barrett, a WKBN broadcaster and former football coach, started the Mooney team in 1958, building it into a success and taking it to its first national tournaments. Barrett remained coach until his 1974 death.
Mastro Nard, who had been an assistant under Barrett, and Allan Williamson served as co-directors for the next 10 years until Williamson left due to family obligations. Mastro Nard then assumed the director’s duties on her own before stepping down from the top spot in 2004.
Matthew Critell took over from 2005 to 2007 followed by April Sauline from 2007 to 2009.
Jennifer Gonda, who competed on the school’s debate team as a student, has served as forensic director for the last four years, working a year as an assistant coach before that.
“There’s a lot to be said about the Mooney tradition of taking things seriously from start to finish in all regards,” Gonda said. “You see students start and struggle as freshmen and sophomores and they stick around and they see, if I put in the time, I can improve.”
A lot of Mooney graduates who competed in speech and debate as students return to coach.
“I love an opportunity to be competitive in not a physical sense,” Gonda said. “There are so many different categories. Every kid can find what they’re good at and what they like.
Students can display their oration, writing, acting or analytical skills, she said.
Mastro Nard keeps notes and emails from former students who have written about the effect the team and speech made on their lives.
They relay stories of formerly shy students coaxed of out their shells and insecure adolescents polished to confident public speakers.
Melissa Eperjesi, a 2014 graduate, who competed in U.S. extemporaneous; junior Dan Driscoll, who competes in Lincoln-Douglas debate; junior Gino Ginnetti, a dramatic interpretation competitor; and senior Michael Angiolelli, who competes in Student Congress, were among team members this past school year.
For both Melissa and Dan, speech and debate team was kind of a family tradition. Melissa has an uncle who competed in the 1970s and 1980s who shared fond memories of his experiences.
“You could say I was lovingly forced into it,” she said with a laugh.
It’s something all of Dan’s older brothers and sisters have participated in as well.
“It isn’t really a choice,” he said.
Neither of them have regretted it.
Gino was encouraged to audition for the team after performing in a play, and Michael’s history teacher sparked his interest in speech.
All of the students say they enjoy the competition — and winning.
“The first time I placed and got a trophy, there was no going back,” Dan said.
It makes you strive to improve from week to week to try to best not only your competitors but your own last performance, Melissa said.
Mastro Nard credits dedicated coaches with helping students discover and develop their skills and talents for the craft.
“Success breeds success,” she said.