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For the first time in three years the Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions (TOC) at Northwestern University crowned a new champion as Josh Wartel of Lake Braddock Secondary School (VA) bested fifty-four other competitors last weekend in Evanston, Illinois. Wartel secured the second major championship of his career by besting Illinois native Vinesh Kannan of the Illinois Math and Science Academy by eight ranks.
The final round featured an equal mixture of senior and underclassmen extempers. The three seniors in the final round – Wartel, Kannan, and Davis Larkin of the Parish Episcopal School (TX) – finished in the top three.
Marshall Sloane of Milton Academy (MA) became the sole extemper this year to make the final round of the University of Kentucky TOC and the Extemp TOC. He finished fourth in Evanston, equaling his finish two weeks ago in Lexington.
Brian Anderson of LaRue County High School (KY), the winner of last week’s University of Kentucky TOC, reached the semi-final round, but did secure some consolation by winning the tournament’s impromptu category.
Twelve underclassmen extempers reached the tournament’s elimination rounds, four of whom advanced beyond quarter-finals. Per TOC policy, these extempers earn an automatic qualification to next year’s event. They are indicated in italics in the results listing.
Here are the results of the 2015 Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions at Northwestern University (Click here for tab sheet):
Champion: Josh Wartel (Lake Braddock Secondary School, Virginia)
2nd: Vinesh Kannan (Illinois Math and Science Academy, Illinois)
3rd: Davis Larkin (The Parish Episcopal School, Texas)
4th: Marshall Sloane (Milton Academy, Massachusetts)
5th: Matthew Zheng (Mira Loma High School, California)
6th: Justin Cooper (Scarsdale High School, New York)
Semi-Finalists
*Brian Anderson (LaRue County High School, Kentucky)
*Matthew Feng (Plano West Senior High School, Texas)
*Vishal Narayanaswamy (James Madison Memorial High School, Wisconsin)
*Jordan Rojas (Hendrickson High School, Texas)
*Karna Venkatraj (A&M Consolidated High School, Texas)
*Marshall Webb (Saint Mary’s Hall, Texas)
Quarter-Finalists
*Sir Maxim Belov (Lake Travis High School, Texas)
*Kevin Bi (East Ridge High School, Minnesota)
*Paul Bousquet (Battle Ground Academy, Tennessee)
*Daniel Drane (Des Moines Roosevelt High School, Iowa)
*Rachel Evans (Salado High School, Texas)
*Allee Johnson (Lake Travis High School, Texas)
*Alekh Kale (James Madison Memorial High School, Wisconsin)
*Connor Leech (Durham Academy, North Carolina)
*Shreetika Singh (Seven Lakes High School, Texas)
*Jay Sirot (Montville High School, New Jersey)
*Mark Wilson (The Parish Episcopal School, Texas)
*Brian Xu (San Marino High School, California)
Impromptu
Champion: Brian Anderson (LaRue County High School, Kentucky)
2nd: Ben Tobin (Lake Braddock Secondary School, Virginia)
3rd: Vinesh Kannan (Illinois Math and Science Academy, Illinois)
4th: Brian Xu (San Marino High School, California)
5th: Mark Wilson (The Parish Episcopal School, Texas)
6th: Alekh Kale (James Madison Memorial High School, Wisconsin)
Sweepstakes
Champions: The Parish Episcopal School (TX)
2nd: Lake Braddock Secondary School (VA)
3rd: Illinois Math and Science Academy (IL)
TOC Excellence Coaching Award: Tim Schefler (James Madison Memorial High School, Wisconsin)
TOC Service Award: Bill Thompson (LaRue County High School, Kentucky)
Extemp Central thanks Northwestern University for putting the results online as well as Bill Thompson for helping to provide live coverage of the event.