Serious young men in coats and ties paced quietly along random paths, some referring to notes on yellow legal pads as they mumbled to themselves, gazed at walls and gestured to no one though appearing to be locked in conversation.

Odd behavior, it would seem, for teen-agers on a Saturday afternoon.

But those familiar with the rigors of extemporaneous speaking in forensics competition say this is normal when a person has half an hour to prepare an argument on a question such as "Should human relations be a significant issue in U.S.-China relations?"

This was the case yesterday as about 70 students from nine public and parochial high schools vied for district honors -- and the right to go to the national tournament -- in a National Forensics League competition at Calvert Hall College high school in Towson. It was the first tournament of the league's new Chesapeake District. The district has 14 member schools from Baltimore and Washington and Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Harford, Frederick and Montgomery counties.

"The hardest part for me is always the memorizing," said Alexander McCloskey, who would win the domestic issues segment of extemporaneous speaking.

In 30 minutes, McCloskey, a junior at Gov. Thomas Johnson High School in Frederick, would have to research his question, outline an answer and prepare to present that answer, without notes, to the judges.

As McCloskey and eight competitors finished their research and writing, each would silently move to a part of the room to mouth their argument and try gestures.

The extemporaneous event was one of five public-speaking categories students competed in; others were original oratory, dramatic interpretation, humorous interpretation and duo interpretation. The tournament also included debate and mock Congress competitions.

Thirteen students qualified for the national competition in Phoenix in June. And the team points continued a long-standing rivalry clearly not limited to the athletic field: The Loyola Blakefield team bested Calvert Hall 45-43.

"We win more championships than the sports teams," boasted Loyola senior Matt Wyman.

Earlier, Rahman Fakunle admitted to being nervous, though he didn't consider that all bad. "A little nervousness always helps produce energy," said the Loyola senior, as he waited to present his dramatic interpretation of the play "Greensboro."

Fakunle's prowess was making another Loyola student anxious. "I'm just pacing because I'm getting ready to face one of the best persons I've ever seen," said Dennis McIver, as he repeatedly covered a small area of the cafeteria, his hands thrust into his topcoat pockets.

McIver's anxiety was justified -- Fakunle took first.

Philip Leadroot of Annapolis High School practiced, in a whisper, his original oratory on declining morality as he walked one of Calvert Hall's long corridors, clutching his baseball cap and seeming to pay attention to no one.

The sophomore had already been to the classroom where his competition would be held. "The more experience, the better off you are," he advised.

Jen Hilton and Melissa Landon of Catholic High School of Baltimore said they practiced the introduction to their "duo interpretation" in the car. The seniors were anxiously waiting to see whom their competition would be in the new district arrangement.

"Debate and forensics was far more valuable than anything I ever learned in class," said Brother Michael Tidd, a social studies teacher at Calvert Hall, director of the forensics activities there and the force behind the new district.

"This is the activity that taught me how to form ideas that are worth communicating," said Tidd. "All sorts of kids can get involved in forensics and debate."

Pub Date: 3/07/99