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Minnesota is a state that splits its debate and speech seasons by semester and the spring semester is the beginning of speech competitions in one of the country’s most nationally successful states. Chanhassen High School in Chanhassen, Minnesota hosted its annual Chanhassen High School Speech Tournament, which attracted twenty-nine extempers like Saturday. Haley Brahmbatt of Chanhassen, a semi-finalist at last year’s CFL Grand National Tournament and quarter-finalist at last year’s NFL National Tournament in International Extemp, took advantage of competing on familiar ground and denied Lily Nellans of Des Moines Roosevelt High School (IA) bid to win a third Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions (TOC) qualifying tournament this season. Brahmbhatt defeated Nellans by one rank to take the title after Nellans took a fourth place rank from one of the five judges on the final round panel, which negated three first place ranks that she received in the round. Brahmbhatt took the other two first place ranks available in the final. Jack Kurila of Eastivew High School (MN) took third. Des Moines Roosevelt placed three extempers in the final round, which was more than any other school. The tournament was unique among many of the TOC qualifying tournaments this season as the final was equally gender balanced, with three female extempers competing against three male extempers.
The tournament also hosted a novice tournament, which was won by Grant Longman-Wheeler of Chaska High School (MN). Longman-Wheeler triumphed over Olivia Shoemaker of Lakeville North High School (MN). Jacob Thompson of Des Moines Roosevelt High School placed third.
All of the extempers in varsity finals earned a TOC qualifying leg and two extempers earned their first qualifying leg for the season. They are indicated in italics in the results listing.
Here are the results of the 2014 Chanhassen High School Speech Tournament (Click here for tab sheet):
Champion: Haley Brahmbhatt (Chanhassen High School, Minnesota)
2nd: Lily Nellans (Des Moines Roosevelt High School, Iowa)
3rd: Jack Kurila (Eastview High School, Minnesota)
4th: Danny Drane (Des Moines Roosevelt High School, Iowa)
5th: Murphy Burke (Des Moines Roosevelt High School, Iowa)
6th: Chase Carlson (Eden Prairie High School, Minnesota)
Novice Extemp
Champion: Grant Longman-Wheeler (Chaska High School, Minnesota)
2nd: Olivia Shoemaker (Lakeville North High School, Minnesota)
3rd: Jacob Thompson (Des Moines Roosevelt High School, Iowa)
4th: Connie Chao (Edina High School, Minnesota)
5th: David Blackstad (Lakeville North High School, Minnesota)
6th: Lizzy Rhinehart (Apple Valley High School, Minnesota)
7th: Kevin Bi (East Ridge High School, Minnesota)
Extemp Central thanks Chanhassen High School for posting the results of the tournament online.