Forensics Society

 

A Legacy of Success

• 37 Consecutive Philadelphia City Speech Championships

• 18 Pennsylvania State Team Championships

• 100+ Individual Pennsylvania State Champions

• 17 Individual National Champions

• Hundreds of individual and team championships across the country

• Hall of Fame Honors:

  • National Coaches Hall of Fame: Tony Figliola

  • State Coaches Hall of Fame: Tony Figliola & John Buettler ’64

From local classrooms to national finals, HGP students continue to lead, inspire, and perform at the highest levels.

Our Purpose

To help every student discover and develop their unique voice—so they can become the best version of themselves.

Our Vision

To empower a community of excellence where students use their voices to change the world through hard work, self-motivation, and discipline.

Our Core Values

• Inclusivity – We create a welcoming, safe space for everyone

• Excellence – We aim high and challenge ourselves daily

• Integrity – We compete and collaborate with honesty and respect

• Collaboration – We grow stronger by growing together

• Dedication – We commit fully—to our craft, our team, and ourselves

• Leadership – We lead by example and uplift those around us

Why Speech & Debate?

According to the National Speech & Debate Association, forensics isn’t just an extracurricular—it’s an edge for life. Schools that offer this activity report:

• Higher test scores

• Increased college acceptance rates

• Stronger leadership skills

• More creative, collaborative thinkers

At HGP, those benefits go even further. Students travel across the country, meeting peers and professionals at top-tier universities like Harvard, Yale, Emory, and Penn. Along the way, they gain confidence, independence, and a community of lifelong friends.

More Than Competition

Forensics at Holy Ghost isn’t just about winning—it’s about becoming. It’s about standing up, speaking out, and learning who you are along the way. From dramatic performances to passionate debates, every event is a chance to grow.

Want to see what we're all about? Check out our Join the Team page!

 

Patrick McGhee, Director of Forensics:

 I’m proud to coach the very team I once competed on under the guidance of legends Tony Figliola and John Buettler. Their mentorship shaped me, and it’s been my mission ever since to give back to the program that gave me so much.

Before returning to Holy Ghost Prep, I coached middle school forensics for four years. Now with over a decade of high school coaching experience and serving as Director of Forensics since 2018, I’ve had the honor of coaching a national champion, multiple national finalists, and several state champions.

My coaching philosophy is rooted in servant leadership. I believe in empowering students to take charge of their performances, explore bold ideas, and experiment with new approaches, while knowing I’m right there beside them every step of the way. I coach every day, and I make it a point to work with everyone on the team, no matter their level or event.

When I’m not coaching or at a tournament (which is rare), I’m spending time with my incredible wife Hayley, who deserves a medal for supporting this wild and wonderful journey. Email Patrick: pmcghee@holyghostprep.org.

 

Theresa Kohler, Head Speech Coach

I competed in a variety of events for Gwynedd Mercy Academy under Maria Carusi, who was great friends with Tony Figliola. As competitors, Holy Ghost was always the team to beat and it’s a great honor to be a part of the Holy Ghost Prep Forensics team’s legacy.

I am coming into my fifth year coaching at Holy Ghost, with Patrick McGhee. We work together to always strive for the best experience for our competitors; creating a teambuilding environment, choosing tournaments that will challenge and help our team grow, and striving to ensure that every student competes their best.

Forensics is a memorable experience that teaches students how to work hard, take constructive criticism, and use it to become an even better competitor, giving them confidence in their abilities to present information in a meaningful way and connect with their audience. These pillars of forensics extend throughout a competitor's life, aiding them in future presentations for college and their career.

My goal as a coach is to help students find their passion and encourage them to build on that passion while learning how to engage an audience completely.
 

Other Heroes Who Have Given Their Time

• Massimo Cifelli '16 - Interp Coach (and National Champion)
• Michael Ivcic '03 - Interp Coach
• Leo Mullin - Extemporaneous Speaking Coach

Do you want to help by coaching? Whether it is for an hour or an entire year, contact Patrick McGhee to discuss how you can help!

 

 

 

 

Are you curious about public speaking, acting, debating, or just looking to grow your confidence and find your voice? Then you’ve already got what it takes to join the Holy Ghost Prep Forensics Team.

Whether you’re a seasoned performer or someone who’s never spoken in front of a crowd, there's a place for you here, because YOUR VOICE MATTERS!

Why Join Forensics?

• Find your voice – Build communication and critical thinking skills that last a lifetime

• Join a community – Our team is a family. We support each other and grow together

• Compete and travel – Represent HGP at local, state, and national tournaments

• Stand out – Colleges love to see speech and debate on applications

• Have fun – Creative events, team trips, and unforgettable experiences

What Events Can I Compete In?

From dramatic acting to persuasive speaking to congressional debates, there’s something for everyone:

• Speech Events: Original Oratory, Declamation, Informative, Extemp, etc.

• Interpretation: Dramatic Interp (DI), Humorous Interp (HI), Duo, POI

• Debate: Student Congress

Don’t worry—you’ll get help finding the right fit.

No Experience? No Problem.

Most of our new members start with no prior experience. You’ll learn everything you need through coaching, practice, and peer support. We’ll work with you at your own pace.

When & Where

We practice after school throughout the week, and compete in tournaments on select weekends all year long, so if you are busy in the Fall, you could still participate in the Spring.

Ready to Try It?

You can also email Coach McGhee at pmcghee@holyghostprep.org with any questions
Or stop by the Forensics Room F204 at break or after school to chat!

Welcome to the HGP Forensics Grade School Invitational!

Holy Ghost Prep is proud to host one of the region’s most exciting speech and debate tournaments for 6th–8th grade students!

This is your school’s chance to shine, compete, and grow in confidence and communication — all in the spirit of friendly, fast-paced, and inspiring competition.

What is Forensics?

In the world of academics, Forensics means more than solving crimes — it’s the art of public speaking and debate! Students can compete in...

• Dramatic Interpretation

• Duo Interpretation

• Humorous Performance

• Original Oratory

• Interp of Prose

• Interp of Poetry

• Extemporaneous Speaking
• Declamation
• Student Congress

Whether students love the spotlight, storytelling, or thinking on their feet — there’s a category for everyone.

Why Participate?

• Build confidence through performance and public speaking

• Grow academically by crafting arguments and thinking critically

• Join a tradition of excellence and enthusiasm at Holy Ghost Prep

• Have fun meeting students from other schools who love to speak and compete!

Tournament Info

• Who: Middle School Students (Grades 6–8)

• What: Annual Invitational Tournament in Speech & Debate

• Where: Holy Ghost Prep Campus, Bensalem, PA

• When: May 9th, 2026

Register Your School or Team

All registrations, event sign-ups, and judging assignments are handled through Tabroom.com. Click the blue button below to go straight to the registration site.

Questions?

Contact the Director of Forensics, Patrick McGhee at pmcghee@holyghostprep.org

We can’t wait to welcome you to our campus and see your students take the stage!