Fort Lauderdale High School’s Debate Team hosted the 2023 Wakefield Flying L Invitational at FLHS on Saturday, September 23, 2023, honoring a well-known Broward County speech and debate coach. During his decades-long tenure, James Wakefield, Fort Lauderdale High School’s former debate team coach, built the Flying L debate legacy we know today, significantly impacting the South Florida speech and debate community. Due to the unfortunate passing of Mr. Wakefield earlier this year, the FLHS Debate Team honored him by commemorating him during the tournament. 

“[The tournament] was named after our old coach, James Wakefield, and is now called The Wakefield Flying L Invitational in memory of him,” explained current FLHS Debate coach and teacher, Mr. Arthur Kulawik.  “It has been the opportunity of a lifetime to take the reins of such a storied Speech and Debate team and carry on Mr. Wakefield’s much-celebrated legacy.”

The newly named Wakefield Flying L Invitational was the second major tournament of the 2023 calendar year in which the FLHS debate team participated, bringing home a respectable 4th place from freshman Daniel Ella who feels that the team is progressing and in good hands.  

“Mr. Kuluawik is doing an amazing job teaching us about how to create better arguments and using them to the best of our ability.” Ella commented, “ We did well in the tournament because of him.”