Category: National Circuit Results Page 2 of 12

2021 University of Texas Longhorn Classic: Roberts Impresses in IX; Letterer Earns Narrow Victory over Ittycheria in USX

On December 9, 2021

Last weekend’s the University of Texas at Austin played host to the 24th Annual Longhorn Classic Tournament, which took place in person after the COVID-19 pandemic forced last year’s tournament to be online. The tournament allowed extempers to double in International and United States Extemp but no one managed to win both as #5 Cameron Roberts of Jack C. Hays High School (TX) and #16 Kyle Letterer of Plano West Senior High School (TX) split the titles.

Roberts dominated the International Extemp final, winning all three first place ranks available, and cruising to a five-rank victory over a bevy of Plano West extempers that were led by Phoena Lin. This marks Roberts’ first National Points Race win of the season in four opportunities.

In United States Extemp, Letterer enjoyed a narrow one-rank victory over Meghna Ittycheria of Lake Travis High School (TX) and also won his first National Points Race tournament of the season. Lin finished third, which made her the most consistent extemper at the tournament across both categories.

Other notable finishes at the Longhorn included a semi-finalist showing in United States Extemp for #2 McKinley Paltzik of Phoenix Country Day School (AZ), who also reached the quarter-final round of International Extemp, a semi-finalist finish by #8 Charles Hou of Plano West in United States Extemp, and semi-finalist placings by #14 Gabriel Bo of Plano West in each extemp category.

The Longhorn Classic is a fourth tier tournament in the National Points Race, so all extempers who reached the semi-final round and beyond will earn points. So as to avoid double counting, Extemp Central will give points to an extemper’s highest finish across the two categories.

All quarter-finalists at the Longhorn receive a bid to the Extemp Tournament of Champions (TOC) at Northwestern University, while all semi-finalists will receive a bid to the University of Kentucky TOC in each category because the Longhorn attracted seventy-two extempers in International Extemp and eighty-seven in United States Extemp.

Here are the results of the 2021 University of Texas Longhorn Classic (Click here for tab sheet):

2021 George Mason University Patriot Games: Kind Closes First Half of the Season With a Third Straight Victory; Solon High School Nets Another Strong Finish

By geniao44446

On December 7, 2021

In National Circuit Results

First semester tournaments have been kind to National Points Race leader Daniel Kind of Lake Highland Preparatory School (FL) whose momentum continued at last weekend’s George Mason University Patriot Games, hosted in an online setting due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kind won his fourth major national circuit event of the season – and third in a row – against a final round field that included three other top ten extempers, although none of those competitors finished second as unranked Olivia Wetzel of Whitmer High School (OH) took second place.

With the win, Kind becomes the first extemper from Florida to win the George Mason Patriot Games since 2015, when Nathaniel Saffran of Trinity Preparatory School captured the championship.

Dev Ahuja of Solon High School (OH), who came into George Mason ranked third, finished in that same position when the competition was over. George Mason is the third time this semester that Ahuja has reached the final round of a National Points Race event. Teammate Vikram Sundaram, who is ranked eighth in the nation, finished fifth.

Seventh ranked Marc Zavarro of Western High School (FL) also notched a third National Points Race final, finishing fifth.

Isabel Brittin of the Potomac School (VA) rounded out the final round with a sixth place finish.

George Mason counts as a third tier tournament in the National Points Race, so all competitors who reached the quarter-final round will earn points. All quarter-finalists will also receive a bid to the Extemp Tournament of Champions (TOC). Since the tournament attracted a smaller field than normal, with only forty-three competitors participating, all finalists will receive a bid to the University of Kentucky TOC.

Here are the results from the 2021 George Mason University Patriot Games (Click here for tab sheet):

2021 Glenbrooks: Kind Makes it Two in a Row on the National Circuit; Ahuja and Dharmapurikar Place in Top 3

By geniao44446

On November 23, 2021

In National Circuit Results

Daniel Kind of Lake Highland Preparatory School (FL) continued his recent run of success at the forty-second edition of the Glenbrooks Speech and Debate Tournament, which took place virtually last weekend due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kind vanquished three other competitors who were in the top ten of the National Points Race in the final round to win his second straight National Points Race event and third of the season. However, Kind did not runaway with the tournament as he defeated Dev Ahuja of Solon High School (OH) by one rank in the final round.

Mukta Dharmapurikar of Durham Academy (NC), who won last year’s NSDA International Extemp final round, reached her first National Points Race tournament final of the year and finished third, five ranks behind Kind. That finish will put her into the top ten of the new National Points Race standings, which will be released on Thanksgiving Day.

Peter Alisky of Smoky Hill High School (CO) and Cameron Roberts of Jack C. Hays High School (TX) both reached the final round of a National Points Race event for the third time, finishing fourth and fifth respectively. Like Dharmapurikar, their finishes will help improve their national ranking.

Gabriel Frank-McPheter of Gabrielino High School (CA) rounded out the final round in sixth place. Frank-McPheter could have easily placed higher as one rank separated competitors placing third through sixth.

Other notable finishes beyond the final round included a quarter-final placing for Yale winner McKinley Paltzik of Phoenix Country Day School (AZ). Also, Marc Zavarro of Western High School (FL) and Vikram Sundaram of Solon High School, who are in the top ten of the National Points Race, dropped in semi-finals. And Blue Key finalists Kyle Letterer of Plano West Senior High School (TX) and Michelle Jin of the Harker School (CA) were eliminated in quarter-finals.

Although it did not have any finalists, Bellarmine College Preparatory (CA) had an impressive showing as four of its extempers reached elimination rounds, the most of any other school in attendance.

There were 116 entries at the Glenbrooks, so all competitors who reached the semi-final round will receive a bid to the University of Kentucky Tournament of Champions (TOC) in April. All competitors who reached the quarter-final round will receive a bid to the Extemp TOC at Northwestern University in May. And all of the competitors that reached elimination rounds will earn points in the National Points Race.

Here are the results of the 2021 Glenbrooks (Click here for tab sheet):

2021 Florida Blue Key: Kind Easily Rolls to Second National Points Race Tournament Victory; Plano West Places Two in Finals

By geniao44446

On November 2, 2021

In National Circuit Results

Last weekend the University of Florida hosted its thirty-eight annual Blue Key Speech and Debate Tournament in a virtual environment. National Points Race leader Daniel Kind of Lake Highland Preparatory School (FL) won a crushing victory over the field, picket fencing the final round and winning his second National Points Race title of the season by six ranks. Kind’s victory will allow him to extend his National Points Race lead as McKinley Paltzik of Phoenix Country Day School (AZ) did not attend the tournament.

Marc Zavarro of Western High School (FL) reached his second National Points Race final round of the season and was the runner-up by one rank over Chirag Choudhary of Unionville High School (PA).

The final three placings in the final round were close as Michelle Jin of the Harker School (CA) took fourth by one rank over Plano West Senior High School (TX) teammates Gabriel Bo and Kyle Letterer, who finished fifth and sixth respectively.

Even though it did not have any finalists, Bellarmine College Preparatory (CA) had six extempers represented in the semi-finals and quarter-finals, the most of any school.

All of the finalists at Blue Key will receive National Points Race points. Since the tournament had seventy-six entries, all those competitors who reached semi-finals will earn a qualifying leg to the University of Kentucky TOC in April. And all extempers who made elimination rounds will receive a qualifying leg to the Extemp TOC at Northwestern University in May.

Here are the results of the 2021 Florida Blue Key (Click here for tab sheet):

2021 New York City Invitational: Paltzik Wins Tiebreaker over Veluvali to Win Second Consecutive National Points Race Event

By geniao44446

On October 19, 2021

In National Circuit Results

The 2021-2022 National Points Race resumed at the New York City Invitational last weekend, taking place online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sixty-nine extempers competed, representing a diverse field that stretched from coast-to-coast.

McKinley Paltzik of Phoenix Country Day School (AZ), this year’s Yale champion and the number two ranked extemper in the National Points Race, won the tournament, defeating last year’s CFL national champion Ananth Veluvali of Edina High School (MN). Paltzik and Veluvali were tied at the conclusion of the cumulative tournament, but Paltzik won the tiebreaker on final round ranks fourteen to seventeen to take the title.

National Points Race leader Daniel Kind of Lake Highland Preparatory (FL) reached a third final round in as many National Points Race tournaments, placing third, three ranks behind Paltzik and Veluvali. This finish will help Kind retain the leadership of the National Points Race.

Peter Alisky of Smoky Hill High School (CO) reached a second National Points Race tournament final round, placing fourth overall. Alisky finished second in the final round behind Paltzik.

The state of Texas kept rolling nationally as some familiar names reached the final round. Cameron Roberts of Jack C. Hays High School, who placed fourth at Yale several weeks ago, finished fifth. Roberts ended up one cumulative rank ahead of Charles Hou of Plano West Senior High School, who finished ahead of Roberts at Yale.

Other notables competed but fell short of the final round. Dev Ahuja of Solon High School (OH), ranked seventh in the National Points Race, reached the semi-finals before bowing out. Marc Zavarro of Western High School (FL), who won the Nova Titan Invitational two weeks ago, reached the quarter-final round.

Although it is not a qualifier for the Extemp TOC, the New York City Invitational is a qualifier for the University of Kentucky Tournament of Champions (TOC) in April. Based on the number of entries, all participants in the final round earn a qualifying leg for that event.

The next major National Points Race event will take place in two weeks online when the University of Florida hosts the Blue Key Speech and Debate Tournament. That tournament, like New York City, will be a fifth tier event.

Here are the results of the 2021 New York City Invitational (Click here for tab sheet):

2021 Yale Invitational: Paltzik Defeats Points Race Leader Kind, Repeats as Champion

By geniao44446

On September 21, 2021

In National Circuit Results

Yale University was the virtual host for its annual Yale Invitational last weekend, attracting 139 extempers from across the country. McKinley Paltzik of Phoenix Country Day School (AZ) won the tournament for the second consecutive year, besting National Season Opener winner and National Points Race leader Daniel Kind of Lake Highland Preparatory School (FL) by two ranks in the cumulative event.

Paltzik’s victory is the first time that a Yale champion has repeated since Kate Fisher of St. Mary’s Hall (TX) accomplished the feat in 2018.

Since Yale is a cumulative tournament the final round winner is not always the person that emerges as the champion. That was the case this year as Cameron Roberts of Jack C. Hays High School (TX) was victorious in the final round with a twelve composite, two ranks better than Paltzik and three better than Kind. However, not enough ground was made up to win, so Roberts placed fourth behind Paltzik, Kind, and Charles Hou of Plano West Senior High School (TX).

For the second straight weekend, Colorado had a finalist in a National Points Race event. This time it was Peter Alisky of Smoky Hill High School, Colorado’s reigning state champion in United States Extemp, who placed fifth.

Solon High School (OH) continued its run of placing extempers in the top tier of national circuit events. Vikram Sundaram, who placed sixth at the University of Kentucky two weeks ago in the Season Opener, replicated that finish at Yale. Sundaram’s teammates Dev Ahuja and Michelle Park reached the semi-final round.

Other notables fell short of making the final round at Yale. These included last year’s NSDA International Extemp final round winner Mukta Dharmapurikar of Durham Academy (NC), who dropped in semis; NSDA United States Extemp national finalist Katelyn Cai of BASIS Scottsdale (AZ), who dropped in octo-finals; and NSDA International Extemp semi-finalist and Season Opener third place finisher Marc Zavarro of Western High School (FL), who dropped in quarter-finals.

Paltzik’s victory at Yale will give them seventy points in this year’s National Points Race. Kind’s second place finish will be enough to keep him on top of the rankings, though, until the New York City Invitational in a few weeks. New National Points Race standings will be released late on Thursday night.

The number of entries at Yale means that all extempers reaching the quarter-finals earned a bid to this year’s University of Kentucky Tournament of Champions (TOC). Quarter-finalists also earn a bid to the Extemp TOC at Northwestern University.

Here are the results of the 2021 Yale Invitational (Click here for tab sheet):

2021 National Speech and Debate Season Opener Hosted by UK: Kind Earns First National Circuit Victory of the Season, Becomes First National Points Race Leader of 2021-2022

By geniao44446

On September 14, 2021

In National Circuit Results

The 2021-2022 national circuit season kicked off last weekend online as the University of Kentucky hosted its annual National Speech and Debate Season Opener. The tournament, a fifth tier National Points Race event, drew fifty-one competitors. Daniel Kind of Lake Highland Preparatory School (FL) was the tournament champion, defeating Cade Savoy of Teurlings Catholic High School (LA) by three ranks in the final round.

Kind and Savoy were the only competitors in the final round to have a cumulative score below ten among the three judges. Marc Zavarro of Western High School (FL), a semi-finalist in International Extemp at last year’s NSDA National Tournament, finished third with ten ranks, three ahead of Dana Ko of Pine Creek High School (CO), who took fourth place.

Solon High School (OH) had two competitors reach the final round, Dev Ahuja and Vikram Sundaram. They finished fifth and sixth, respectively.

Ananya Singh of Centennial High School (TX) finished seventh.

Kind, who won last season’s Barkley Forum and Harvard, will become the season’s first National Points Race leader. All competitors in the final round who placed in the top six will earn points toward this year’s standings. The first standings of the National Points Race will be posted Thursday evening.

Although the tournament is not a qualifier for the Extemp Tournament of Champions (TOC) at Northwestern University, all of the finalists earned a bid to this year’s season’s UK TOC.

Here are the results of the 2021 National Speech and Debate Season Opener Hosted by the University of Kentucky (Click here for tab sheet):

Stanford Invitational: Kalahasti and Habib Split IX & USX Wins; Kalahasti Earns More National Ranking Points

By geniao44446

On March 8, 2020

In National Circuit Results

by Daniel Kind

In early February, the 34th Annual Stanford Invitational, an important tournament for West Coast Extempers has concluded. This year’s instance of the Palo Alto tournament attracted 69 competitors, mostly from California in National Extemp and 66 competitors in International Extemp. The Stanford Invitational is a fifth-tier tournament which means that it is a make or break affair. Only finalists are awarded points in the national points race. Since the tournament divides Extemporaneous Speaking into International and National (US) categories, the competitors who placed in the top 6 using a formula that calculates results in both categories.

Nikitha Kalahasti, an MBA attendee from Presentation High School in California placed 1st in the International Category and 3rd in the National Category. These placements give her 1st place overall and 40 points in the National Points Race. Krish Kothari from Mission San Jose High School in California earned 2nd place overall as a result of his 2nd place finish in International Extemp and his semifinal placement in National Extemp. James Hu of Mira Loma High School in California got 3rd place overall; he finished in 5th place in both International and National Extemp. Arham Habib from Monte Vista High School in California came in 4th place overall since he won the National Extemp category. 5th place goes to Keith Maben from Golden State Academy in California, who got 2nd in National Extemp. Rounding out the finalists is Monte Vista High School’s Lisa Leung, who finished 3rd in International Extemp.

For their performances, Kalahasti got 40 points, Kothari got 34, Hu got 28, Habib got 20, Maben got 16, and Leung accrued 13 points in the Extemp Central National Points Race.

Here are the results of the 2020 Stanford Invitational:

(Click here for International tab sheet):

(Click here for National tab sheet):

2019-2020 Extemp Season Winter Update

By geniao44446

On February 12, 2020

In MBA Coverage, National Circuit Results

by Daniel Kind

The Winter months of the season are often the most important and jam-packed for the entire extemp community. With at least six major national tournaments, as well as the Montgomery Bell Academy Round Robin occurring in these three months, this time is often the crux of the season. Given our brief winter hiatus in the latest tournament results, Extemp Central is now updating the community of the tournaments we missed over the winter.

2019 Glenbrooks: Lanz Edges Padmanabhan to Claim Title, Claim National Points Race Lead

By geniao44446

On December 3, 2019

In National Circuit Results

by Daniel Kind

The 39th annual Glenbrooks Speech and Debate Tournament was recently held the weekend before Thanksgiving with 88 entries. As per usual, the tournament was run using a clean break system, but without the usage of the internet during prep. As one of the largest tournaments in the season and one of the last of the year, Glenbrooks is hugely impactful on the Extemp circuit. The final round this year was one of the most hotly contested finals in recent memory for the tournament.

Gus Lanz from Cypress Bay High School (FL) earned 1st place in the tournament. He beat out East Ridge High School’s (MN) Sam Padmanabhan, who got 2nd, by one rank in the final round. Pierce Florey of Phoenix Country Day School (AZ) was tied with Padmanabhan for 2nd, but due to judge preference, he took the 3rd place spot. Anuj Kothari from Bellarmine College Preparatory (CA) got 4th place while Ethan Jiang from Seven Lakes High School (TX) edged out Sinan Kassim from the NSU University School (FL) by judge preference for 5th and 6th place respectively.

As a result of The Glenbrooks’ status as a 3rd tier tournament, Lanz earned 100 points for the affair, propelling him to 1st place in the Extemp Central national points race. Padmanabhan got 80 points, placing him in 5th place. Florey accrued 70 points for 6th place in the points race. Kothari attained 50 points for 8th, Jiang earned 40 (tying him for 12th place with Pranav Pattatahunaduvil), and Kassim gained 33 points, making him 10th. All semifinalists got 25 points, putting Theodore Roosevelt HS’s Mo Marks at 2nd and Lake Highland Preparatory’s Daniel Kind at 7th respectively. All quarterfinalists earned 15 points, tying American Heritage Plantation’s Juliette Reyes for third with James Gao.

Here are the results of 2019 Glenbrooks (Click Here for Tab Sheet):

2019 Florida Blue Key: Reyes Picket Fences Final Round; Lanz Takes Second

By geniao44446

On November 6, 2019

In National Circuit Results

Report provided courtesy of Daniel Kind

In Gainesville, Florida on Halloween weekend, the 36th annual Florida Blue Key tournament took place. As per usual with Blue Key, the tournament was held with clean breaks. Differing from the usual, however, was the combining of the International Extemp and Domestic Extemp Section. This Mixed Extemporaneous Speaking pool drew in 120 competitors all over the nation, from California to Tennessee.

Juliette Reyes from the American Heritage School (FL) picked fenced the final round, earning straight 1st place rankings from the three judges in the final to win the tournament. Gus Lanz of Cypress Bay High School (FL) came in 2nd place. Right on his heels and separated by a margin of one rank, Mo Marks from Theodore Roosevelt High School (IA) earned 3rd place. Mary Courtney Finn, hailing from the Battle Ground Academy (TN) came in 4th place. Meanwhile Bhrajit Thakur of Trinity Preparatory School (FL) and Sinan Kassim from the NSU University School (FL) finished out the finalists in 5th and 6th place respectively.

In other news, congratulations to Mo Marks for getting 1st place and Juliette Reyes for getting 2nd place in the Blue Key Extemp Round Robin. Additionally, congratulations to the other Round Robin participants, Bhrajit Thakur, Sil Gamboa Marty, Mukta Dharmapurikar, Gus Lanz, and Daniel Kind.

Blue Key is another fifth tier tournament in the 2019-2020 Extemp Central National Points Race. Reyes earned 40 points for her victory, while Lanz attained 34, Marks gained 28, Finn scored 20, Thakur got 16, and Kassim accrued 13 points.

Here are the results of the 2019 Florida Blue Key (Click here for tab sheet):

2019 New York City Invitational: Plano West Dominates, Pattatahunaduvil Wins Decisive Victory

By geniao44446

On October 23, 2019

In National Circuit Results

Report and images courtesy of Daniel Kind.

On a rainy weekend in the middle of of October, anxious extempers gathered in the Bronx for the 49th annual New York City Invitational held at the Bronx School of Science. With 83 entries in the tournament, the elimination round was hotly contested. As seems to be the precedent this season, the tournament was cumulative with a preliminary drop round.

Pranav Pattatahunaduvil of Plano West High School (TX) triumphed the tournament by a long shot, with a margin of eight ranks separating him from second place finisher – and teammate – Angela Wang also from Plano West High School (TX). Jack Silvers of Scarsdale High School (NY) and James Gao from Ridge High School (NJ) were tied for third and fourth places respectively, yet Silvers pulled away by a margin of 0.03 reciprocals to win the tiebreaker. Tristan Wertanzl of Cypress Bay High School (FL) earned fifth place and Leyla Hagan from Syosset High School (NY) finished in sixth.

Due to The NYC Invitational being a fifth tier tournament in the Extemp Central National P by oints race, Pattatahunaduvil gets on the board with 40 points. Wang earned 34 points, Silvers got 28, Gao accrued 20, Wertanzl scored 16, and Hagan got 13. (Editor’s Note: The first National Points Race standings for 2019-2020 will be released follow the Florida Blue Key)

Here are the results of the 2019 New York City Invitational (Click Here for Tab Sheet):

2019 Yale Invitational: Gao Triumphs By One Rank Over Marks

By geniao44446

On September 17, 2019

In National Circuit Results

Report submitted by Daniel Kind

Last weekend, the Yale Invitational officially kicked off the 2019-2020 Extemp Season! The tournament had 138 entries, making it one of the largest in the history of the tournament. Diverging from previous years, the tournament was cumulative this year rather than having clean breaks.

James Gao of Ridge High School (NJ) edged out a victory against Mo Marks of Theodore Roosevelt High School (IA) by one rank in the final round. Alex Massa of Hoover High School (OH), Juliette Reyes of American Heritage School (FL), and Daniel Kind of Lake Highland Preparatory (FL) were neck and neck for third, fourth, and fifth place respectively. One rank separated each of the three competitors. Dylan Cawley of the Delbarton School (NJ) rounded out the top six in sixth place.

Because Yale is a fourth tier tournament in the National Points Race, Gao earned seventy points for winning the event. Marks earned 60, Massa earned 49, Reyes earned 35, Kind earned 28, and Cawley earned 20. Additionally, all semi-finalists earned 18 points.

Here are the results of the 2019 Yale Invitational (Click
here for tab sheet):

2019 Barkley Forum: Maximos Demolishes Final Round; Kirk Finishes Runner-Up on the Heels of MLK Win

By geniao44446

On January 31, 2019

In National Circuit Results

Extempers converged on Atlanta, Georgia last weekend for the Barkley Forum, a fourth tier event in the National Points Race that typically attracts top competitors throughout the South. However, this year it was a Northeast extemper, Christopher Maximos of the Delbarton School (NJ), who blew through the competition and won the tournament title, going straight 1’s across the final round’s panel of five judges. Maximos became the first Northeastern extemper to win the Barkley Forum since Aaron Mattis of Scarsdale High School (NY) won the tournament in 2008.

Maximos was the third place finisher at the Montgomery Bell Academy Extemp Round Robin earlier in the month and his victory was his first at a National Points Race event this season.

While Maximos swept all of the first place ranks in the final, the ranks were less uniform for the other five competitors. Nikolas Kirk of Brophy College Preparatory (AZ), coming off the heels of a victory in international extemp at the James Logan MLK Invitational, was the runner-up, finishing eleven ranks behind Maximos. Saskia Reford of Saint Mary’s Hall (TX) and Jake Pellett of Berkeley Carroll School (NY) tied for third with a total of eighteen ranks, with Reford receiving third place due to a judges’ preference tiebreaker.

The final round was rounded out by Lauren Huttner of Kent Denver School (CO), who placed fifth, and Meghana Vattigunta of Ardrey Kell High School (NC), who finished sixth.

All of the extempers that made it to the semi-final round at the Barkley Forum will receive points in the National Points Race. New standings that encompass the results of Barkley, the MLK Invitational, and the Marshall Speech Spectacular will be released late tomorrow evening.

Here are the results of the 2019 Barkley Forum (Click here for tab sheet):

2019 Marshall Speech Spectacular: Wu Wins Final Round Full of Minnesota Extempers; Marks Finishes Third to Close Gap in the National Points Race

By geniao44446

On January 30, 2019

In National Circuit Results

This was Wu’s first National Points Race final round and championship this season. The final round was also Brachio’s first at a National Points Race event, who was a quarter-finalist at Glenbrooks in November.

Mo Marks of Theodore Roosevelt High School (IA) was the highest ranked competitor in the final round. Marks captured one of the five available first place ranks in the last round of the tournament but was unable to accumulate enough ranks to defeat Wu, finishing five ranks behind her and four ranks ahead of fourth place finisher Seamus Duffy of O’Gorman High School (SD). Nevertheless, Marks notched her first top three finish in her sixth National Points Race final round showing this year, and the points earned her helped her trim the National Points Race lead that is currently held by Kay Rollins of the Potomac School (VA).

Minnesota extempers Sam Padmanabhan of East Ridge High School and Alli Hering of Eastview High School were the fifth and sixth place finishers, respectively.

Since the Marshall Speech Spectacular was a fifth tier event in the National Points Race, Wu earned forty points for her victory. All of the competitors in the final round earned points.

Here are the results for the 2019 Marshall Speech Spectacular (Click here for tab sheet):