LEWISTON – John Blanchette, a longtime Lewiston-Auburn speech and debate coach known for his enthusiasm and willingness even to help rival teams, has been named Maine Forensics Association Coach of the Year.
Blanchette also won the award in 1996. It is extremely rare for a Maine coach to be honored twice.
“It was all very unexpected,” Blanchette said.
Blanchette, 39, graduated from Lewiston High School in 1983 and from Bates College in Lewiston in 1987. He majored in psychology and minored in French.
He was working as a teaching assistant and drama coach at Edward Little High School a couple of years later when he was asked to help lead the speech and debate team. Blanchette had no background in speech and debate, also known as forensics, but he jumped in.
“I thought, You know what, I can learn,'” he said.
He initially stuck close to those categories that were similar to drama. Within a few years he was skilled in all categories and was even involved in the state association.
He coached at Edward Little for three years, then moved on to St. Dominic Regional High School, then in Lewiston, for four years. He started coaching at his alma mater, Lewiston High, five years ago.
Blanchette, who now sells insurance, gives up at least one or two afternoons a week to work with the team. It’s paid off for his students. Blanchette’s teams consistently win state tournaments. They go on to nationals every year.
Ashley McWhorter is one Lewiston team member who will be going to nationals this spring. She said after-school practices are always fun and energetic, but productive.
“He’s nice. He gives you a lot of different ideas on ways to approach your piece,” said McWhorter, a 16-year-old sophomore.
Candy Gleason, an Edward Little teacher and former speech and debate team coach, said Blanchette is known for helping all students, even when they’re members of rival teams. Even during competitions.
“He is just the most compassionate, caring, selfless person that you can imagine as a competitor,” she said. “He’s helped my kids out.”
The Maine Forensics Association includes 40 to 50 coaches, assistant coaches and supervisors from the 30 Maine high schools that have speech, debate or student congress groups. Association members choose the Coach of the Year.
The winner must show a high degree of sportsmanship, innovation, integrity, leadership and longevity in speech and debate circles.
Blanchette said he was honored by the award, and credited other longtime coaches for mentoring him over the years. He found it hard to believe he’s now a mentor himself.
“I’m one of the token oldsters now, although I don’t feel I’ve been around for a long time,” he said. “I feel I’ve just gotten my feet wet.”
Comments are no longer available on this story