Declamation champ wows Rotary members

Jonathan Wolf with his father, Leslie, after the declamation champion of the 2016 National and Junior National Speech & Debate National Tournament spoke at the weekly Rotary Club of Saipan meeting Tuesday at the Hyatt Regency Saipan. (Erwin Encinares)

Jonathan Wolf, 12, impressed members of the Rotary Club of Saipan with his rendition of Sir Patrick Henry’s speech that essentially ignited the American Revolution in 1775.

Wolf started public speaking at the age of 8. His award-winning speech won him the championship trophy at the 2016 National Junior Speech and Debate Association competition, which was held in Salt Lake City, Utah. The 7th grade Dandan Middle School student is now also a member of the Junior International Thespian Society.

“As always, success is directly proportionate to the combination of talent and hard work. I practice a lot. Everyday,” said Wolf during an interview after serving as guest speaker of the weekly Rotary Clkub meeting at the Hyatt Regency Saipan last Tuesday.

He is now training as he is currently aiming to earn some points to take him to the national competition again. According to Wolf’s mother and coach, Johanne, his son would be entering the monthly competition starting in October. “The [NJSDA] monthly competition will start in October, and it serves as a competition where kids gather points which will make them eligible to compete in the regional competition, the state competition. We’re not sure whether it will be held again in February, and whoever makes it in the regional will be the representative for the CNMI in June for the national competition,” said Johanne.

For the Thespian, competitions to rack up points would also be starting in October. “For Thespian, it will also start in October. The Junior International Thespian Society will hold its first competition this coming October. And, then again, they try to collect points. If they make it, if they win in the regional competition for the Thespian, they get sent to the nationals in February,” said Johanne.

Jonathan Wolf, though young, is very efficient with his time when it comes to balancing his practice sessions and school activities. “I joined soccer when I was still doing PGFC (Primary Grade Forensic Conference) and how I balanced that was I joined the regular time in soccer, like, I joined soccer, I practiced for soccer at the regular time I was supposed to. And for PGFC I practiced whenever I get home, basically when I have free time I practice,” he said.

“He’s got a little play in there some time,” chuckled Leslie, Jonathan’s father.

The Thespian Nationals would be held in California, while the NJSDA nationals would be held in Alabama in June 2017.