Category: Extemp TOC Page 1 of 2

On May 3, 2022

This year’s Tournament of Champions in Extemporaneous Speaking, also known on the circuit as the Extemp TOC, attracted a field of forty-four extempers. The competition was hosted by Northwestern University and had to be held online because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

#9 Cameron Roberts of Jack C. Hays High School (TX) won her second National Points Race event of the season, defeating #6 Ananth Veluvali of Edina High School (MN) by four ranks in the final round. The victory is Roberts’ first major championship and earns her 100 points in the National Points Race. Roberts has reached five National Points Race tournament final rounds this year, the second-most of any extemper in the country.

Veluvali, who already has a major championship, finished runner-up for the third consecutive time in a National Points Race tournament. He has also notched runner-up finishes in the season’s first two majors.

Kevin Li of Ridge High School (NJ) finished third, seven ranks behind Veluvali and eleven behind Roberts.

Fourth place went to Raghav Ramki of Plano East Senior High School (TX), who finished four ranks ahead of Pierce McDade of Normal University School (IL).

#21 Phoena Lin of Plano West Senior High School (TX) was the third ranked extemper to reach the final round. She finished sixth in her second national circuit final of the season.

As with the University of Kentucky Tournament of Champions (TOC) there were a few notables who did not reach finals. These included #1 Daniel Kind of Lake Highland Preparatory School (FL), who missed the final round by one rank after taking two sixth place ranks in semi-finals. #24 Theodore Gercken of College Preparatory School (CA), the lone California extemper in the field because this year’s TOC clashed with the California state tournament, dropped in quarter-finals. And #14 Olivia Wetzel of Whitmer High School (OH) missed clearing to quarter-finals by one rank.

#16 Mukta Dharmapurikar of Durham Academy (NC) did not attend the tournament to defend her champinship.

The TOC awards a sweepstakes trophy, which was won by Edina High School. Second place went to Plano East and third was taken by Ridge High School.

Since the TOC is a third tier event in the National Points Race, all extempers who reached elimination rounds will receive points. New standings will be released later this week.

All non-senior extempers who cleared to elimination rounds are automatically qualified for next year’s TOC.

Here are the results from the 2022 Tournament of Champions in Extemporaneous Speaking (Click here for tab sheet):

2016 Extemp TOC: Xu Brings the Title Back to San Marino With Three Rank Victory Over Graham

On May 9, 2016

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The fourteenth edition of the Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions (TOC) was held last weekend on the campus of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and Brian Xu of San Marino High School (CA) won the second major championship of the season. Xu defeated Justin Graham of Trinity Preparatory School (FL), who was attempting to win two TOC tournaments in back-to-back weeks, by three ranks. Xu and Graham took all of the first place ranks in the final round.

Xu becomes the second extemper from San Marino to win the Extemp TOC. Nabeel Zewail of San Marino won the title back in 2010 and San Marino becomes the second school, other than Eagan High School (MN) to have two extempers win the tournament.

The final round featured a diverse collection of talent, with five of the finalists having competed at the Montgomery Bell Academy Extemp Round Robin back in January. Neil Patel of Plano West High School (TX) finished in third place, followed by Justin Cooper of Scarsdale High School (NY). Bradley Wascher of St. James School (AL) and Glenbrooks winner Marshall Webb of St. Mary’s Hall (TX) rounded out the top six.

Xu will earn 100 points in the National Points Race for his win, but Graham, who also won the Impromptu competition at the tournament and placed fourth by himself in school sweepstakes, will extend his lead since Vaikunth Balaji of Ridge High School (NJ) and Marshall Sloane of Milton Academy (MA) were not in the field. New National Points Race standings will be released on Thursday evening.

Here are the results of the 2016 Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions (Click here for tab sheet):

2015 Extemp TOC: Wartel Secures Second Leg of the Grand Slam; Sloane Makes Both TOC Finals

On May 5, 2015

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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):

2014 Extemp TOC: Nellans Wins Third TOC Title & Breaks Major Championship Record

On May 12, 2014

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History was made Sunday at the 2014 Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions (TOC). Lily Nellans of Des Moines Roosevelt High School (IA) won her third consecutive TOC championship and her seventh major championship. Nellans victory over Chase Harrison of Millburn High School (NJ) gives her more major championships than any extemper in history. She has also won the second leg of the Grand Slam for the third straight year. In 2012, Nellans came just shy of becoming the second extemper in history to win a season Grand Slam when she finished third in International Extemp at the NFL (now NSDA) National Tournament. If she were to win the NSDA National Tournament this year, she would complete a career Grand Slam, something only one other extemper – Kevin Troy of Eagan High School – has ever done.

The tournament featured sixty extempers and the final round contained the top five finishers from this year’s Montgomery Bell Academy Extemp Round Robin. The finalists also shared two national championships, six NSDA final round appearances, and eleven 2014 TOC qualifying championships between them. Two of the finalists, Nellans and third place finisher Miles Saffran of Trinity Preparatory School (FL), will compete in International Extemp at the 2014 NSDA National Tournament, while the other four (Harrison, Josh Wartel of Lake Braddock Secondary School (VA), Arel Rende of Booker T. Washington High School (OK), and Sydney Walter of Salado High School (TX)) will compete in United States Extemp. It is very likely that elements of this TOC final round will be played out again in a month’s time in Overland Park, Kansas.

The TOC also gives out a service and coaching award each year. This year’s service award went to Harry Strong of Des Moines Roosevelt. The coaching award went to Meredith Deaton of Booker T. Washington.

Lake Braddock Secondary School was the tournament’s sweepstakes award winner, besting Booker T. Washington by ten and a half points.

According to TOC qualifying rules, all extempers reaching elimination rounds at the tournament automatically qualify for the 2015 TOC. Fourteen extempers met this criteria and earn tickets back to Evanston next season. These extempers are indicated in italics below. Extemp Central will have the 2015 TOC qualification board posted just prior to the NCFL Grand National Tournament.

Here are the results of the 2014 Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions (Click here for tab sheet):

2012 Extemp TOC: Nellans Wins Her Second Consecutive Grand Slam Tournament and Fourth National Points Race Tournament; Harrison Takes Second

On May 20, 2012

Last week, the tenth edition of the Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions (TOC) was held at Northwestern University. Lily Nellans of Des Moines Roosevelt High School in Iowa won the second consecutive leg of the extemporaneous speaking Grand Slam by defeating Chase Harrison of Millburn High School, this year’s Yale champion, in the final round. For Nellans to complete the Grand Slam, which has not been done since Kevin Troy of Eagan High School in Minnesota accomplished the feat in 2005, she will need to win CFL and NFL Nationals. Nellans won the MBA Extemp Round Robin earlier this year and her victory will give her 100 points in the Extemp Central National Points Race. Des Moines Roosevelt High School in Iowa continued its impressive streak of showings on the national level this year by having two the top three extempers in the tournament. Carolyn Evans of Des Moines Roosevelt placed third behind Nellans and Harrison.

All of the elimination round participants per TOC qualification rules have already locked up a spot in next year’s Extemp TOC.

Here are the full results of the tournament (tab sheet can be found by clicking here)

2011-2012 Extemp TOC Updates

On October 13, 2011

There are several updates for this year’s Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions (TOC) that have recently been added to the site. The Extemp TOC has made several changes to this year’s qualification process. The biggest is that legs at invitational tournaments will be based on the size of the field. To better understand this process, you can visit the Extemp TOC’s website or read our description, which is available when you click on the “TOC” tab above (don’t click on any of the submenus). Also, in an attempt to encourage more state champions to attend, all state champions of their 2011 state tournament (if held after April 15th last year) and all state champions of their state tournaments that happen prior to April 15, 2012 will receive an entry fee waiver to this year’s event.

The 2011-2012 Extemp TOC calendar has been updated. The dates for three tournaments, the Fayette Classic, the University of Pennsylvania Liberty Bell Classic, and the Northwestern Invitational could not be found. If you have these, please e-mail them to me at [email protected]. You can check out the updated TOC calendar by clicking here or by placing your mouse over the TOC tab and clicking one of the drop down menus.

Also, the TOC qualification board has been updated to reflect Wake Forest and Yale. Due to this year’s changes to the qualification process, it is VERY important that Extemp Central receive tab sheets OR accurate information about entries from all tournaments that are TOC qualifiers. Otherwise, it will make it difficult for us to keep the qualification board accurate. The new qualification board can be found by clicking here or by placing your mouse over the TOC tab and clicking one of the drop down menus.

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2011 Extemp TOC: Constine Upsets Slinger; National Points Race Remains Undecided

On May 15, 2011

After two days of competition, the 2011 Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions (TOC) has come to a close and Ben Constine of Yorktown High School in Virginia is your winner. Constine, who finished second at the George Mason Extemp Round Robin, fourth at the Wake Forest National Early Bird, and was a quarter-finalist at the George Mason University Patriot Games Tournament and at Harvard, scored what many could call an upset in the final round when he defeated last year’s CFL extemp national champion, Dylan Slinger of Lakeville High School in Minnesota, by judges preferences to win the title. Constine is the first Virginia extemper to win a National Points Race tournament since Ariel Schneller won Yale in 2001. Slinger was the only competitor in the top 15 in the National Points Race to make the final round. Texas, which had more qualifiers to this year’s TOC than any other state, had two finalists. Matthew Hinojosa of Flower Mound High School placed third and Susan Czaikowski, who was an NFL semi-finalist in United States Extemp last year and was invited to this year’s Montgomery Bell Academy Extemp Round Robin, placed fifth. Matt Rauen of Pennsbury High School in Pennsylvania placed fourth and Emily Bell of Ladue Horton Watkins High School in Missouri made her second National Points Race final of the year and placed sixth.

2011 Extemp TOC: Finalists Announced

On May 15, 2011

In Extemp TOC, National Circuit News

Here are the announced finalists for the 2011 Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions at Northwestern University. These extempers, as well as te finalists, earned foruth tier National Points Race points. Thanks to Robert Sheard for these posting updates.

*Emily Bell (Ladue Horton Watkins High School, Missouri)
*Ben Constine (Yorktown High School, Virginia)
*Susan Czaikowski (Lamar Consolidated High School, Texas)
*Matthew Hinojosa (Flower Mound High School, Texas)
*Matt Rauen (Pennsbury High School, Pennsylvania)
*Dylan Slinger (Lakeville South High School, Minnesota)

2011 Extemp TOC: Quarter-Finalists Are Announced

On May 15, 2011

In Extemp TOC, National Circuit News

Quarter-Finalists for the 2011 Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions (TOC) have been released. All of these individuals have earned an automatic qualification to next year’s TOC. These come courtesy of Robert Sheard. Some competitors information has not been collected, so if you know who certain people are below, please let us know by commenting in this post or e-mailing me at [email protected].

2011 Extemp TOC: Haven’t Registered for the TOC Yet? There’s Still Time

On May 3, 2011

There is still time for extempers that are qualified for the 2011 Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions (TOC) at Northwestern University to register for next week’s event. The deadline is May 7th. You can visit the TOC’s website to access necessary registration information.

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2011 Extemp TOC: TOC Qual Board is Updated to Reflect the Barkley Forum, the Schwan’s Speech Spectacular, and CSU Fullerton

On February 3, 2011

The qualification board for the 2011 Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions has been updated to reflect the results of last week’s Barkley Forum and Schwan’s Speech Spectacular tournaments. Also, we have obtained the results of the Cal State University, Fullerton Tournament that was held in October thanks to Josh Samra, so those results are also reflected in the qual board.

Ten extempers qualified to the Extemp TOC after entering these results, bringing the total number of extempers qualified to 215. California gained four quals, more than any other state, and is now tied with Florida with the second most number of quals at twenty-one. Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee each gained one qualifier last week. Twenty-four extempers earned their first TOC leg last week and the total number of potential qualifiers now stands at 307. This weekend there are two TOC qualfying tournaments: the Pennsbury Falcon Invitational in Pennsylvania and the Apple Valley Minneapple Speech Tournament in Minnesota. If anyone is attending and can send us the names of elimination round participants and subsequent results we would appreciate it.

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2011 Extemp TOC: TOC Qual Board is Updated to Reflect Columbia

On January 27, 2011

The qualification board for the 2011 Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions has been updated to reflect the results of the Columbia University Invitational.

Six extempers qualified to the Extemp TOC last week, bringing the total number of extempers qualified to 205. New York added three qualifiers last week, while California added two and Massachusetts added one. Eleven extempers earned their first TOC leg last week and the total number of potential qualifiers now stands at 289. This weekend there are two TOC qualifying tournaments: the Barkley Forum (which is also a fourth tier tournament in the National Points Race) and the Schwan’s Speech Spectacular in Minnesota. If anyone is attending and can send us the names of elimination round participants and subsequent results we would appreciate it.

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2011 Extemp TOC: The Qual Board is Updated to Reflect the MLK Invitational, the Crestian Classic, and Winston Churchill

On January 20, 2011

The qualification board for the 2011 Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions has been updated to reflect the results of the James Logan MLK Invitational, the Crestian Classic, and the Winston Churchill High School Tournament. We were able to get complete results from all of the tournaments held last week and thanks to James Logan and Pinecrest for posting their results on Joy of Tournaments and Adam Johnson for giving us breaks at Winston Churchill. Also, I appreciate some Florida extempers for sending me the Crestian result soon after the tournament finished. Keep in mind that we still need the results from the Isidore Newman School Tournament and the Nevada Debate and Forensic Festival, so if there are any readers in Louisiana or Missouri, please get us information about these tournaments.

Seven extempers qualified to the Extemp TOC last week and after making a correction and adding Jason Singh of Green Valley High School in Nevada to the qualified list under category 2B, that brings the total number of extempers qualified to 199. Texas has more qualifiers than any other state with 45 and Florida sits in second place with 21. One hundred extempers earned their first TOC leg last week and the total number of potential qualifiers now stands at 284. The Colombia Invitational is the only TOC qualifying tournament this weekend and if anyone is attending and can send us the names of elimination round participants and subsequent results we would appreciate it.

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2011 Extemp TOC: TOC Qual Board is Updated

On January 14, 2011