Category: National Circuit Results Page 3 of 13

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):

2022 University of Kentucky Tournament of Champions: Paltzik Wins Fourth National Points Race Championship of the Season, Jin Takes Second

By geniao44446

On April 28, 2022

In National Circuit Results, UK TOC

The University of Kentucky hosted its annual Tournament of Champions (TOC) last weekend, drawing a crowded and distinguished field of ninety-seven extempers from around the country. The tournament took place in an online environment due to ongoing complications from the COVID-19 pandemic.

#3 McKinley Paltzik of Phoenix Country Day School (AZ), who won last month’s Montgomery Bell Academy Extemp Round Robin, won her second consecutive national circuit event, defeating #19 Michelle Jin of the Harker School (CA) by three ranks. It is the fourth National Points Race tournament that Paltzik has won this season and keeps her perfect record of winning tournaments intact when she reaches the final round.

Jin notched her second top three finish of the season and her fourth National Points Race final round appearance, tying a host of other extempers for fourth-most on the year.

Defending NCFL National Champion #10 Ananth Veluvali of Edina High School (MN) took third, finishing one rank behind Jin and four behind Paltzik. Veluvali notched a close second finish to Paltzik last month at MBA. His three National Points Race final rounds this year have all been top three finishes.

Three more ranks separated Veluvali from James Cullen of Chaminda High School (NY), who finished fourth. On his heels were Alex Sorgini of La Salle High School (PA) and Kush Narang of Bellarmine College Preparatory (CA), who finished fifth and sixth, respectively.

A consequence of the strong field at this year’s TOC is that there were many top ranked extempers that fell before reaching the final round. #5 William Chien of the Harker School, #16 Olivia Wetzel of Whitmer High School (OH), and #23 Majid Shabbeer of Bellarmine College Preparatory (CA) dropped in semifinals. #2 Marc Zavarro of Western High School (FL) and #18 Natasha Banga of Coppell High School (TX) dropped in quarter-finals. And #12 Gabriel Bo of Plano West Senior High School (TX). #13 Thomas Vandenberg of Flintridge Preparatory School (CA), and #21 Francis Olakangil of Bellarmine dropped in octa-finals.

Since the UK TOC is a fourth tier tournament in the National Points Race, all extempers who reached the semi-finals and beyond will earn National Points Race points. The large participation in this year’s TOC, as well as the quality of its field, will upgrade its standing in next year’s National Points Race.

In addition, all of the non-senior finalists at this year’s TOC earn an automatic invitation to next year’s tournament.

Here are the results of the 2022 University of Kentucky Tournament of Champions (Click here for tab sheet):

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

By geniao44446

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:

2022 California Invitational: Vandenberg Thwarts Chien’s Back-to-Back Bid; Bellarmine College Preparatory Has Two Finalists

By geniao44446

On February 24, 2022

In National Circuit Results

The University of California-Berkeley hosted eighty-two extempers this year in a virtual environment for its California Invitational, one of the largest and most competitive tournaments on the West Coast. In the cumulative tournament, Thomas Vandenburg of Flintridge Preparatory School (CA) defeated #7 William Chien of the Harker School (CA) by two ranks to claim the title. Chien was attempting to win back-to-back titles after capturing the Palm Classic’s International Extemp Championship a week earlier.

Vandenburg will earn 100 points in the National Points Race for his win as the California Invitational is a third tier event.

#24 Natasha Banga of Coppell High School (TX) was the only out of state finalist. She reached her second National Points Race final round of the year and finished fourth.

Bellarmine College Preparatory (CA) had two finalists. Majid Shabbeer was third and #21 Francis Olakangil was fifth.

Akul Murthy of Lynbrook High School (CA) rounded out the final, taking sixth.

#14 Michelle Jin of the Harker School was the defending champion but her run in the tournament ended in quarter-finals.

Other National Points Race notables who dropped in the quarter-final round included #18 Vansh Mathur of Cupertino High School (CA) and #22 Theodore Gercken of the College Preparatory School (CA).

All elimination round participants earned a qualifying leg to the Extemp TOC at Northwestern University, while all semi-finalists and beyond earned a qualifying leg to the UK TOC.

Here are the results of the 2022 California Invitational (Click here for tab sheet):

2022 Harvard National Forensics Tournament: Zavarro Thwarts Kind’s Back-to-Back Bid, Becomes Third Floridian to Win in Four Years

By geniao44446

On February 22, 2022

In National Circuit Results

Harvard’s 48th annual Harvard National Forensics Tournament lived up to its reputation as the biggest high school regular season tournament as 184 extempers dueled in an online environment last weekend and Monday. When the dust settled, #3 Marc Zavarro of Western High School (FL) won a tightly contested final round over Katelyn Cai of BASIS Scottsdale (AZ) and #1 Daniel Kind of Lake Highland Preparatory School (FL). Zavarro defeated Cai and Kind by one rank and was the only competitor to capture two first place ranks among the final round’s five judges. Cai defeated Kind due to judge’s preference, three to two.

Zavarro’s victory keeps the Harvard title in Florida, albeit at a different school, becoming the third Floridian in the last four years to win Harvard. His victory prevented Kind from winning consecutive Harvard titles, something that has not been done since at least 2002, and broke Kind’s six-tournament winning streak in National Points Race events.

Florida had the most final round participants with three, with #24 Jack Ververis of Trinity Preparatory School (FL) placing fifth.

Other finalists included Iesh Gujral of Eden Prairie High School (MN), who placed fourteenth at last year’s NSDA National Tournament in International Extemp, and #9 Gabriel Frank-McPheter of Gabrielino High School (CA), who was participating in his fourth National Points Race final round this year and was coming off of a runner-up finish in U.S. Extemp at the Palm Classic. Gujral placed fourth, while Frank-McPheter finished sixth.

There were many notables that made the other elimination rounds. #8 Gabriel Bo and #19 Phoena Lin of Plano West Senior High School (TX) reached semi-finals. #6 Kyle Letterer of Plano West and #13 Mukta Dharmapurikar of Durham Academy (NC) made it to quarter-finals. And #4 Cameron Roberts of Jack C. Hays High School (TX), #5 McKinley Paltzik of Phoenix Country Day School (AZ), #15 Charles Hou of Plano West, #17 Swadesh Sistla of ModernBrain (CA), and #24 Madeline Tsao of Plano West dropped in octo-finals.

All quarter-finalists and beyond earn bid legs to UK TOC and the Extemp TOC. And all elimination round participants will earn points in the National Points Race, with new standings released by Sunday.

Here are the results from the Harvard National Forensics Tournament (Click here for tab sheet):

2022 Palm Classic: Chien Wins Narrow IX Victory; Sistla Captures USX With Three First Place Ranks in Finals

By geniao44446

On February 15, 2022

In National Circuit Results

Although the Stanford National Invitational was cancelled this year, the Palm Classic emerged as a late replacement for the annual event in Palo Alto, California. The tournament offered International and United States Extemp categories, with eighteen extempers competing in IX and thirty-four competing in USX.

In International Extemp #15 William Chien of the Harker School (CA) defeated Vansh Mathur of Cupertino High School (CA) by one rank. Judges were split across the final round, with Chien, Mathur, and Lakshya Chaudhry of Vancouver Debate Academy (Canada) each earning a first place ranking.

In the United States Extemp portion of the tournament Swadesh Sistla of ModernBrain (CA) defeated #14 Gabriel-Frank McPheter of Gabrielino High School (CA) by four ranks. Sistla took three of the five available first place ranks in the final round. Chien placed third, making him the best performing extemper in the tournament if results from each category were taken into account.

Other notable finalists in the tournament included a fourth place finish for #14 Michelle Jin of the Harker School (CA) in IX. And Luccia Yacoub of Gabrielino High School (CA), who sits just outside of the National Points Race Top 25, placed sixth in IX.

Some other prominent names dropped in the semi-final round of USX, just missing out on National Points Race points. These included #13 Praveen Kumar of the Hawken School (OH) and #20 Theodore Gercken of College Preparatory (CA).

Since the Palm Classic is a fifth tier tournament in the National Points Race all extempers who made the finals of IX and USX will earn points. In Chien’s case, his victory in IX will count but not his third place finish in USX to avoid double counting.

With regards to TOC qualifications, all semi-finalists and finalists earn a bid to the Extemp TOC. The top three in IX earn a bid to the UK TOC, while the top six in USX earn a bid to UK TOC.

Here are the results of the 2022 Palm Classic (Click here for tab sheet):

2022 Barkley Forum: Kind Breaks National Points Race Record With Victory; Bo and Letterer Give Plano West Two Finalists

By geniao44446

On February 1, 2022

In National Circuit Results

Last week Emory University hosted its annual Barkley Forum, which was held online for the second straight year. #1 Daniel Kind of Lake Highland Preparatory (FL) won his sixth consecutive National Points Race event – a new record – and successfully defended his title against a field of 66 extempers. Kind took three first place ranks in the final round, defeating #21 Gabriel Bo of Plano West Senior High School (TX) by three ranks. Natasha Banga of Coppell High School (TX) placed third, five ranks behind Bo.

Two other finalists were ranked in the top 10 of the National Points Race. #5 Marc Zavarro of Western High School (FL) placed fourth and #8 Kyle Letterer of Plano West, who won United States Extemp at the Longhorn Classic last month, was fifth.

Theodore Gercken of College Preparatory School (CA) placed sixth.

Other notable finishes saw #14 Praveen Kumar of the Hawken School (OH) and #18 William Chien of the Harker School (CA) make the semi-final round. #14 Phoena Lin of Plano West reached quarter-finals.

Since the Barkley Forum is a fourth tier tournament in the National Points Race all extempers who reached semi-finals will receive points and new standings will be released later this week.

In terms of TOC qualifications, all finalists receive a bid to the University of Kentucky TOC while all semi-finalists receive a bid to the Extemp TOC.

Here are the results of the 2022 Barkley Forum (Click here for tab sheet):

2022 James Logan MLK Invitational: Olakangil Narrowly Wins IX; Frank-McPheter Dominates USX

By geniao44446

On January 18, 2022

In National Circuit Results

The National Points Race moved to the West Coast for last weekend’s James Logan MLK Invitational, hosted by James Logan High School in Union City, California. This year’s tournament was hosted virtually due to ongoing concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic and offered split extemp categories, with thirty-three competitors clashing in International Extemp and fifty-three in United States Extemp.

In International Extemp the winner was Francis Olakangil of Bellarmine College Preparatory (CA). Olakangil, a quarter-finalist earlier this season at Glenbrooks, defeated Vansh Mathur of Cupertino High School (CA) by three ranks in the cumulative tournament. #21 Michelle Jin of the Harker School (CA), the only ranked extemper in the field, placed third, just one rank behind Mathur.

The United States Extemp category was not as close as Gabriel Frank-McPheter of Gabrielino High School (CA), a finalist earlier in the year at Glenbrooks, cruised to an eleven-rank victory over Swadesh Sistla of ModernBrain (CA). Third place finisher William Chien of the Harker School (CA) finished seven ranks behind Sistla.

Nathan Tamkin of George Washington High School (CO) and Luccia Yacoub of Gabrielino High School (CA) made finals in both extemp categories. Tamkin placed seventh in IX and fifth in USX, while Yacoub finished sixth in IX and seventh in USX.

The MLK Invitational was a fifth tier event in the National Points Race, so Olakangil and Frank-McPheter will earn forty points for their victories and the top six in each category will receive points. Tamkin and Yacoub will receive credit for their highest finish.

All extempers who reached semi-finals in each category earn a bid to this year’s Extemp TOC at Northwestern University. The top seven finishers in each category receive a qualifying bid to the University of Kentucky TOC.

Here are the results of the 2022 James Logan MLK Invitational (Click here for tab sheet):

2022 Sunvitational: Kind Continues Impressive Run; Kumar Places Second

By geniao44446

On January 11, 2022

In National Circuit Results

At last week’s Sunvitational, held online, #1 Daniel Kind of Lake Highland Preparatory (FL) continued his impressive run through the national circuit, winning his fifth major national circuit event of the year against sixty-one other competitors. As has been customary in recent months, Kind won the final round in impressive fashion by taking four of the five available first place ranks and defeating Praveen Kumar of the Hawken School (OH) by eleven.

Behind Kind and Kumar were Jack Vervis of Trinity Preparatory School (FL) and Faye Zhang of Eastview High School (MN). Ververis tied Kumar for second place but lost on a judges preference tiebreaker, with Kumar preferred by three judges to Ververis’ two. Zhang finished only one rank behind both of them.

The last two finalists were Michelle Park of Solon High School (OH), who was fifth, and Elizabeth Wong of Durham Academy (NC), who placed sixth.

Other notables who reached elimination rounds included #10 Olivia Wetzel of Whitmer High School (OH), who dropped in semi-finals, and #5 Marc Zavarro of Western High School (FL), who dropped in quarter-finals.

Defending champion #9 Mukta Dharmapurikar of Durham Academy did not participate in this year’s contest.

Kind will earn seventy points in the National Points Race for his win at the Sunvitational, as the tournament is a fourth tier event. All extempers who reached the semi-final round will earn points.

In terms of TOC qualifying bids, all extempers who made finals and semi-finals earned a bid to the Extemp TOC at Northwestern University. All finalists receive a bid to the University of Kentucky TOC in April.

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

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

By geniao44446

On December 9, 2021

In National Circuit Results

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):