1970: The Speech & Debate Team at Walt Whitman High School dates back to the 1970s.  The team provides for participation in the following events: Congress, Lincoln Douglass, Public Forum and Speech, whereby Speech events are further broken down into multiple forms.

2008-2010: It was not until about 2008-2010 that the team became the national powerhouse it is today. Then-head coach Anjan Choudhury hired other successful coaches, brought the team to many more national tournaments, and encouraged students to go to summer institutes.

2010: In 2010, the Whitman team set a record, which still stands, for the most LDers ever qualified in one year to the TOC (ten). Whitman competitors in multiple events routinely win national tournaments throughout the year: recent championships include Bronx, Glenbrooks, Apple Valley, Blake, and Sunvitational.  In July of 2010, Mandy Katz incorporated Walt Whitman High School Speech Debate Inc. as a non-profit (501c3) organization, with Sharon Franklin and Jonathan
Massey as its original director. 
 
2014: Whitman Debate performed exceptionally well with a dual win by two Whitman teams of the Public Forum Champion of Tournaments (TOC) in 2014. Three Whitman LDers have reached semifinals at the TOC since 2010. 

2015-2016: The 2015-2016 year sees Whitman arguably at its overall strongest in PF history! The Arnesen Twins succeed at numerous national tournaments as well as many other partnerships. 6 Whitman pairs qualified for TOC. 

2017-2018: This is the 6th time Whitman has had a team make it to finals in PF at the TOC and it is the 10th consecutive year a Whitman team has advanced to elimination rounds. Rabhya Mehrotra and Elisa McCartin are also the first all female team to reach finals since 2009.

2021-2022: Whitman PF wins  three national tournaments (Yale, Mid-America Cup, and Villiger), 4 teams qualify to TOC. After a successful career breaking down barriers for female debaters, duo Sophia Polley-Fisanich and Katheryne Dwyer placed 3rd at TOC!