First-year speech and debate competitor heads to nationals

By Justin Wier

jwier@vindy.com

AUSTINTOWN

Austintown student Johnna Blystone said growing up loving books raised hopes in her that weren’t realistic.

“Engrained in me was this ideal of the fairy-tale life,” Johnna said. “And growing up you sort of realize that that’s not how it works.”

Not everyone gets their perfect happily ever after, she said. But Johnna will have a chance at hers.

A speech about the effect reading had on her qualified Johnna for the National Speech and Debate Tournament starting June 18 in Birmingham, Ala.

Despite this past academic year being her first on the speech and debate team, Johnna was the only Austintown student to qualify for the national tournament this year.

“It is quite an accomplishment to qualify for the national tournament as a freshman,” said Andrea Reed, Austintown’s speech and debate coach. “I ... know that she has many bright years ahead of her.”

It was in Reed’s English class that Johnna first heard of speech and debate.

“I love performing, and I love writing,” Johnna said. “So I figured it was two things that could go together that I could possibly do well in.”

She’s exceeded expectations. Johnna’s goal was to qualify for the state tournament, which she did, but nationals was a surprise.

“It was mind-blowing,” Johnna said. “I wasn’t expecting it. ... I think I’m very lucky.”

Johnna performs in the original oratory category. Competitors compose a 10-minute speech on a topic of their choosing.

This allowed her to employ her writing skills. Johnna was awarded “Promising Young Talent” award at the state Power of the Pen tournament, which gives students 45 minutes to write from a prompt.

She also has a background in theater, with past performances in productions of “The Little Mermaid” and “Sweeney Todd.”

Still, she said her team and coaches also deserve credit for her success.

“As much as it seems like it’s an individual event, it really is a team effort,” Johnna said. “Everyone puts in. Everyone helps edit each other’s speeches.”

Johnna and her family are reaching out to others for help as well. Because Austintown students often don’t qualify for nationals, there isn’t funding ready to get Johnna to Alabama. Her family started a GoFundMe page to raise money for travel and hotel expenses, and Johnna’s mom Rosalyn said the school has been supportive.

“The staff has been wonderful,” she said. “Our superintendent getting the word out has made a huge, huge difference.”

The family has also received donations from past Austintown speech and debate students. Rosalyn said if they exceed their goal, they will donate the excess to the speech and debate program.

Rosalyn believes attending nationals will help Johnna put herself in a position to do even better in the future.

“Being exposed to the best of the best nationwide is going to help her progress even further in the years to come because she’ll get to see how high that bar is,” she said. “Her getting so far now only highlights how far she’s going to be able to go.”

After graduation, Johnna said she hopes to either pursue writing further or go into forensic science. But she plans to continue honing her speech and debate talents in the meantime.

“I really like speech,” she said “It was probably the highlight of my freshman year.”

Those interested in helping to support Johnna’s trip can donate at www.gofundme.com/johnna-blystone-goes-to-nationals.