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Possessing the National Points Race bonus at this year’s NSDA Nationals, International Extemp has been a brutal fight through twelve rounds. The thirteenth and final round, which will be contested at 11:00 a.m. CST on Friday, will determine not only the 2015 NSDA International Extemp National Champion, but also the winner of the 2014-2015 National Points Race. Extemp Central will provide a brief recap of the final round after it concludes.
The following preview is designed to let readers know a little about each of the participants in this year’s final round, which features three of the top ten extempers in the National Points Race. The final round also features four state champions and its competitors share eight TOC qualifying tournament titles and twenty-seven 2014-2015 national circuit final round appearances.
BRIAN ANDERSON
*School: LaRue County High School, Kentucky
*Class: Senior
*Notable 2014-2015 Finishes: Kentucky High School Speech League State Tournament-1st; University of Kentucky TOC-1st; Western Kentucky University-1st; Barkley Forum-2nd; MBA Extemp Round Robin-2nd; George Mason-3rd; NCFL Nationals-3rd; Yale-4th; Extemp TOC-Semifinalist; Glenbrooks-Semifinalist
*Previous NSDA Nationals Finishes: 2014-14th (USX); 2013-Octofinalist (USX)
*What’s at Stake: Anderson is the first Kentucky extemp finalist since 2010 and just like James Mohan of Danville during that year, he has a chance to win the National Points Race. To make a run, though, he will likely need a top three finish, but top three finishes have been typical of Anderson’s performances on the national circuit this year. Having won the University of Kentucky Tournament of Champions in April, Anderson went on to finish third at the NCFL Grand National Tournament several weeks ago. He also has top three finishes at the Montgomery Bell Academy Extemp Round Robin, the Barkley Forum, and George Mason. A Kentucky extemper has never won International Extemp and the state has not won a main event championship since 1987 when Tim Black of Calloway County High School won United States Extemp. Seeing as how Anderson is the only extemper to win the Kentucky state title three consecutive times, he just might be up to that task on Friday.
ROHAN DHOOPAR
*School: Bellarmine College Preparatory, California
*Class: Senior
*Notable 2014-2015 Finishes: California High School Speech Association State Tournament-1st (IX); James Logan MLK Invitational-1st (IX); California Invitational-Semifinalist; Montgomery Bell Academy Extemp Round Robin-Participant
*Previous NSDA Nationals Finishes: 2014-3rd (IX); 2013-12th (IX); 2012-Quarterfinalist (USX)
*What’s at Stake: Dhoopar will be returning to the NSDA International Extemp final for the second consecutive year, an honor that no other participant in the final round shares. Dhoopar surprised some observers by placing third at last year’s NSDA National Tournament in International Extemp, but he has a proven track record of sustained excellence at the national level. Each of the last three years that Dhoopar has participated in extemp at the NSDA National Tournament he has steadily improved his performance and if that trend continues then a top two placing could be in the offing. Dhoopar is a two-time California International Extemp state champion, having regained that title this year. Although he only traveled to one national circuit competition outside of California this season – the Montgomery Bell Academy Extemp Round Robin – Dhoopar’s solid performances within Califonia and his NSDA track record give Bellarmine a great chance to win its first IX title since 2010 when Jacob Baker left Kansas City with the championship (and the National Points Race title).
JACK GLASER
*School: George Washington High School, Colorado
*Class: Senior
*Notable 2014-2015 Finishes: Glenbrooks-1st; Colorado High School Activities Association State Tournament-2nd (IX); California Invitational-3rd; New York City Invitational-4th; George Mason-Quarterfinalist
*Previous NSDA Nationals Finishes: 2013-13th (IX)
*What’s at Stake: After not attending last year’s national tournament, Jack Glaser has placed himself among familiar company in the 2015 International Extemp final round. Glaser became the first Colorado extemper to win the Glenbrooks in November and at the New York City Invitational this year he placed fourth, just behind fellow finalists Noah Wexler and Justin Graham. Glaser finished thirteenth in International Extemp at the 2013 NSDA National Tournament in Birmingham, Alabama, which put him one place behind Rohan Dhoopar, who is also in this year’s final. Glaser will attempt to return the International Extemp title to Colorado for the first time in nine years as Spencer Rockewell won the title in 2006. Glaser is also an MBA Extemp Round Robin alum, participating in the 2014 edition of the tournament.
JUSTIN GRAHAM
*School: Trinity Preparatory School, Florida
*Class: Junior
*Notable 2014-2015 Finishes: Florida Blue Key-1st (USX), 2nd (IX); Florida Forensic League State Championship Tournament-1st (USX); Harvard-1st; George Mason-2nd (Patriot Games), 3rd (Round Robin); NCFL Nationals-2nd; New York City Invitational-3rd; Sunvitational-3rd; University of Kentucky TOC-3rd; Crestian Tradition-4th; MBA Extemp Round Robin-6th; Glenbrooks-Semifinalist; Wake Forest-Semifinalist; Yale-Quarterfinalist
*Previous NSDA Nationals Finishes: 2014-Quarterfinalist (IX)
*What’s at Stake: Graham is the only non-senior in this year’s IX final, but does enter as the National Points Race leader. Along with fellow finalist Brian Anderson, Graham is one of the more distinguished and well-traveled competitors on the national circuit this season, capturing championships at the Florida Blue Key in United States Extemp and at Harvard. All six of Graham’s National Points Race final round appearances have translated into top three finishes and he will look to do the same on Friday, which might just be enough to secure the National Points Race title. Graham is one of two finalists in this year’s round to have also finaled at NCFL Nationals (Brian Anderson is the other). If Graham were to win, Trinity Preparatory would retain the International Extemp title and become the first school in NSDA history to have two different extempers win back-to-back extemporaneous speaking championships since the IX/USX split began in 1985.
NOAH WEXLER
*School: Nova High School, Florida
*Class: Senior
*Notable 2014-2015 Finishes: Barkley Forum-1st; Florida Blue Key-1st (IX), Semifinalist (USX); Florida Forensic League State Championship-1st (IX); New York City Invitational-2nd; Sunvitational-2nd; MBA Extemp Round Robin-4th; University of Kentucky TOC-Semifinalist; Glenbrooks-Quarterfinalist
*Previous NSDA Nationals Finishes: None
*What’s at Stake: Wexler has been one of the many notable extempers from Florida this year on the national circuit, sporting a state championship in International Extemp and two national circuit wins to his name. Although Wexler is not in contention for the National Points Race crown, he has exchanged ranks with National Points Race leader and fellow finalist Justin Graham throughout the year, beating him at the New York City Invitational, the Sunvitational, the MBA Extemp Round Robin, and the Florida Blue Key in International Extemp. However, Graham sports higher finishes at the University of Kentucky TOC and the Glenbrooks, which explains his higher stature in the rankings. Wexler is one of four finalists this year to have won a state championship. He is also the only competitor in the final to have never competed at NSDA Nationals before, not that any of that hindered his efforts at this year’s tournament. Nova High School has never had an International Extemp winner, although it did have the champion of United States Extemp in 2011.
ALEX YE
*School: Gabrielino High School, California
*Class: Senior
*Notable 2014-2015 Finishes: James Logan MLK Invitational-2nd (IX); California High School Speech Association State Tournament-Semifinalist (IX)
*Previous NSDA Nationals Finishes: 2014-14th (IX)
*What’s at Stake: If there is ever a competitor flying under the radar at a national tournament, Alex Ye might be it. A competitor for Gabrielino High School, Ye has not traveled the national circuit this season, but despite that he has improved upon his performance at last year’s nationals to make the final round. Profiled as part of our season preview piece, Ye went on to take second to fellow Californian and finalist Rohan Dhoopar at the James Logan MLK Invitational in International Extemp this past January. He is also a former California state extemp finalist, placing third in International Extemp in 2014. Long-time followers of the national circuit may remember that Ye’s brother Kevin finished second at the 2011 NSDA National Tournament in United States Extemp to Jared Odessky. Gabrielino High School has never won any hardware at NSDA Nationals in extemporaneous speaking, so Ye could do so by winning the tournament and/or the final round.