For the first time in three years, the California High School Speech Association State Championship is being held in-person, and expected to make the trip is the Speech and Debate team of Turlock High School.

The California High School Speech Association is a non-profit, all volunteer association comprised of over 300 member schools throughout the state of California. Volunteer members include teachers, speech and debate coaches, parents and community members.

Fourteen members of the THS club have qualified for the state tournament in Carlsbad in April. They are Daniel Sanchez, Gabriel Sorisho, Nienebra Varani, Nihal Gill, Martin Bertao, Celeste Vargas, Linley Fripp, Dalton Howry, Kendall Lima, Isabel Castellanos, Zeke Castellanos, Maguire Lima, Victoria Acevedo and Kate Williams. The club is coached by Michele VanNieuwenhuyzen, who is in her 14th year with the club.

At the state tournament, students will tackle several topics, including finance and economics, science and technology, politics and government, social isssues and controversy, and U.S. Foreign Policy.