Month: March 2022

2022 Montgomery Bell Academy Extemp Round Robin: Paltzik Fends Off Veluvali, Captures the Season’s First Major Championship

On March 8, 2022

In MBA Coverage, National Circuit Results

The MBA top six (from left to right): Gabriel Frank-McPheter, Katelyn Cai, Daniel Kind, McKinley Paltzik, Ananth Veluvali, and Peter Alisky. Photo is courtesy of Daniel Kind.

Last weekend’s Montgomery Bell Academy Extemp Round Robin was a close contest throughout as a ten rank differential separated the winner from sixth place. #7 McKinley Paltzik of Phoenix Country Day School (AZ) fended off a late surge by reigning NCFL National Champion Ananth Veluvali of Edina High School (MN), winning the first major championship of the season by two ranks. Over the last three rounds of competition, Veluvali took seven of nine available first place ranks, moving from fourth place to second in the process, but Paltzik closed with three first place ranks of her own to retain possession of first place

National Points Race leader Daniel Kind of Lake Highland Preparatory School (FL) finished third, six ranks behind Paltzik. Like Veluvali, Kind made a late charge in the tournament as well but was undone by a handful of 3’s and 4’s early Saturday morning.

#10 Katelyn Cai of BASIS Scottsdale (AZ) followed up a runner-up at Harvard with a fourth place finish at MBA, running a mere rank in front of #18 Peter Alisky of Smoky Hill High School (CO) and #6 Gabriel Frank-McPheter of Gabrielino High School (CA). Alisky and Frank-McPheter tied for the fifth place spot, which was broken on a second tiebreaker of reciprocals because they tied on six ballots head-to-head.

Paltzik is the first Arizona extemper to win the Round Robin and is the first junior to win since Lily Nellans of Des Moines Roosevelt (IA) in 2013. Her win at MBA is her third National Points Race tournament championship of the season. Paltzik has won every National Points Race tournament final round that she has advanced to this year.

#12 Mukta Dharmapurikar of Durham Academy (NC) was a late scratch from the tournament, replaced by teammate Elizabeth Wong.

MBA only announces the top six at awards, so the other participants in the tournament are listed in alphabetical order. Only the recognized top six will receive National Points Race points. New standings will be released Thursday evening.

Here are the results from the 2022 Montgomery Bell Academy Extemp Round Robin:

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of March 7-13, 2022

By geniao44446

On March 7, 2022

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Will foreign fighters help Ukraine turn the tide against Russia?
2. In light of economic difficulties, should China continue its present rate of military spending?
3. Are Pakistan’s women’s marches accomplishing their objectives?
4. Should NATO impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine’s nuclear power plants?
5. Will Danish voters approve joining the EU’s defense policy?
6. What steps can Moldova take to protect its territorial integrity and deter Russian aggression?
7. Is the Sahel the new home of international terrorism?
8. If North Korea developed a spy satellite, what impact would that have on East Asian security?
9. How can the international community alleviate food shortages that will come from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine?
10. Are Germany’s green energy efforts failing?

HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of March 7-13, 2022

By geniao44446

On March 7, 2022

In U.S. Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Should presidents continue to give the State of the Union in person?
2. What impact will higher gas prices have on the 2022 midterm elections?
3. To what extent will Beto O’Rourke’s failed presidential bid be used against him in the Texas gubernatorial election?
4. What should President Biden do if Russia launches massive cyberwarfare attacks on the United States?
5. Should President Biden seek out a new Secretary of Energy?
6. Do more states need to mirror Florida’s example and create an Election Crimes Agency?
7. Should the Biden administration lift its moratorium on federal executions?
8. Will complications with California’s reparations efforts scuttle a larger, national effort?
9. Is it too late for President Biden to salvage his domestic agenda?
10. Will Jessica Cisneros win her runoff election with Representative Henry Cuellar?

R&D from Prepd: The Nomination of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court

By geniao44446

On March 4, 2022

In R&D, U.S. Extemp

Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd (pronounced “prepped”). Prepd is building debate technology that helps extempers and congressional debaters research, practice, and compete. Visit www.prepd.in to learn more.

This week’s R&D from Prepd covers President Biden’s nomination of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. Justice Brown, a graduate of Harvard Law School, is currently on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. If confirmed, she would be the first African-American woman to serve on the Court. The Senate is expected to confirm Brown, who’s nomination cannot be filibustered as per Senate rules.

The Senate Judiciary Committee announced it will hold four days of hearings for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson. https://t.co/rr9at04i3o

— U.S. News & World Report (@usnews) March 3, 2022

“One of the nation’s top legal minds, who will continue Justice Breyer’s legacy of excellence,” Biden says about his SCOTUS nominee, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, during the #SOTU.

Read about her here: https://t.co/kg48mf6YcC

— The Brookings Institution (@BrookingsInst) March 2, 2022

Ketanji Brown Jackson isn’t expected to need GOP votes to be confirmed to the Supreme Court.

But a handful of Republicans are torn over whether to cross party lines and vote for the first Black woman justice. https://t.co/QkV6BWlcuU

— POLITICO (@politico) March 3, 2022

2022 State Tournament Results: February State Tournament Round Up (Montana, Maine, Alaska, Illinois, Arizona & New Mexico)

By geniao44446

On March 3, 2022

In State Results

The 2021-2022 postseason has begun, with state tournaments taking place in Montana, Maine, Alaska, Illinois, Arizona, and New Mexico. Extemp Central congratulates all of those who made the finals of their respective state championships, and also congratulates those who won state titles.

From now until May, Extemp Central will be providing recaps of state tournaments. Sometimes these columns will appear weekly. Sometimes monthly. But regardless, we will do our best to give recognition to extempers doing great things at the state level.

We will also be rolling out our NSDA national qualifying boards, with more information to come about those next week.

Here is a roundup of results for state championships in the states listed above: