If you come to one of our tournaments in-person, one of the first things you’ll likely see in the morning is Coach Komlo pacing around the entry hall in his trademark Yankees cap, individually calling each of his debaters to make sure they are awake and either have a ride or are otherwise in route. Online, you’ll see the Yankee insignia painted loud and proud on his home office wall behind him, and the same care and attention being paid to his kids, remotely.
Coach Komlo isn’t a former debater, coming to teaching after serving in the military. He’s a veteran coach whose worked with the league for six years now. Phelps High School was always consistent — they’d have 2-4 debaters, and someone would be registered at every tournament, usually in the Novice Division. This year, the team is not only growing numerically, but the competitive success is coming around too. They’ve advanced to the JV level, had success there, attended their first regional competitions, and even won an award in January. The sky is the limit, and this squad is just getting started.
Beyond helping his own team succeed, Coach Komlo has been a great member of our debate community. He is the first to volunteer to cover a round when we need a replacement judge, worked with the district to solve our technical problems earlier in the season, and helped out at summer camp. He is an outstanding educator, and we’re so thrilled to have him recognized in the company of these great educators from around the country.