Category: National Circuit Results Page 4 of 12

2016 California Invitational: Zheng Wins First National Circuit Title of the Year; Levenson Wins Final Round and Takes Second

On April 25, 2016

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This year’s National Points Race features the California Invitational as a third tier tournament and Matthew Zheng of Mira Loma High School (CA) seized the chance to move into the rankings by winning the tournament in February. Zheng took the title in the cumulative competition by three ranks, defeating Jacob Levenson of Nova High School (FL), although Levenson did win the tournament’s final round by one rank. Daniel Ginsburg of Miramonte High School (CA) finished in third place.

If Levenson had defeated Zheng he would have become the first non-Californian to win the tournament in eleven years.

As expected, California schools dominated the tournament, with twelve of the fifteen competitors that survived to the semi-finals and finals coming from the state. However, there were some notable names that made the trip to Berkeley. One of them was Glenbrooks winner Marshall Webb of Saint Mary’s Hall (TX), who finished in fifth place.

All of the competitors that reached the quarter-final round and beyond will earn National Points Race points. The new National Points Race standings will be released late Wednesday night.

Here are the results of the 2016 California Invitational (Click here for tab sheet):

2016 Harvard University National High School Invitational: Hu Defeats 218 Others to Move Up the National Points Race; Sloane Places Second

By geniao44446

On April 24, 2016

In National Circuit Results

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Two months ago, Harvard University held its 42nd edition of its National Forensics Tournament. Katherine Hu of Plano Senior High School (TX) was the winner, achieving a five rank victory after taking three of the five available first place ranks in the final round. Marshall Sloane of Milton Academy (MA) finished in second place, continuing an impressive second semester string of showings in National Points Race tournaments. Montgomery Bell Academy Extemp Round Robin winner Vaikunth Balaji of Ridge High School (NJ) finished third.

Hu’s victory makes her the first Texas extemper since at least 2000 to win Harvard. She also becomes the second female winner of the tournament in the last five years, as Lily Nellans of Des Moines Roosevelt High School won the tournament in 2012.

Since Harvard is a second tier tournament in the National Points Race, Hu will earn 150 points for her victory. National Points Race leader Justin Graham of Trinity Preparation School (FL) saw his attempt to defend his title end in the preliminary rounds due to a sixth place rank in the second round. All of the competitors that reached elimination rounds earned National Points Race points.

Here are the results of the 2016 Harvard University National High School Invitational (Click here for tab sheet):

2016 Barkley Forum: Boreckzy Defeats Langford to Bring the Title Back to the West Coast

By geniao44446

On February 17, 2016

In National Circuit Results

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Several weeks ago Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia hosted its annual Barkley Forum for high schools. Chance Boreckzy of James Logan High School (CA) became the first California winner of the tournament since 2006, edging out Andrew Langford of Lake Highland Preparatory School (FL) by one rank to win the title. National Points Race leader Justin Graham of Trinity Preparatory School (FL) finished in third place.

The tournament was one of the closest in history as only one rank separated each of the top four competitors. For example, Jacob Levenson of Nova High School (FL) finished just three ranks behind Boreckzy.

Since the Barkley Forum is a fourth tier tournament in the National Points Race, Boreckzy will earn seventy points for this win. The tournament allows Justin Graham to enhance his National Points Race lead since none of the competitors close to him inthe standings made the trip to Atlanta.

Here are the results of the 2016 Barkley Forum (Click here for tab sheet):

2016 Marshall Speech Spectacular: Shoemaker Wins Her Second TOC Title of the Year; Bi Finishes Second

By geniao44446

On February 17, 2016

In National Circuit Results

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Marshall High School in Marshall, Minnesota hosted the last fifth tier tournament in the 2015-2016 National Points Race on January 29 and 30. Olivia Shoemaker of Lakeville North High School (MN) was this year’s tournament champion, winning by a convincing five rank margin over Kevin Bi of East Ridge High School (MN).

The final round was dominated by Minnesota extempers, as Jarrek Holmes of Kent Denver School (CO) was the only non-Minnesota competitor to make it that far. He finished fourth.

The tournament final was largely a duel between Shoemaker and Bi as they ended up well clear of their fellow competitors. Whereas Shoemaker ended up five ranks clear of Bi, Bi ended up three ranks ahead of third place finisher Charlie Park of Roseville Area High School (MN).

Shoemaker will earn forty points for her victory in the National Points Race, which is her first National Points Race title of the year. The victory was her second at an Extemp TOC qualifying tournament this season as she won the Dowling Catholic Paradigm in December.

Here are the results of the 2016 Marshall Speech Spectacular (Click here for tab sheet):

2016 James Logan MLK Invitational: Shaik and Govindaraju Lead an Archbishop Mitty Sweep

By geniao44446

On January 21, 2016

In National Circuit Results

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Last weekend’s James Logan MLK Invitational, held at James Logan High School in Union City, California, played host to the second part of the “California Swing” of the National Points Race and this year’s event was dominated by Archbishop Mitty High School (CA). In International Extemp, Ismail Shaik of Archbishop Mitty won a five rank victory over Shreyan Jain of Bellarmine College Preparatory (CA) and in United States Extemp, Pranav Govindaraju of Mitty narrowly defeated Charles Tang of Leland High School (CA) by one rank. The tabulation of the tournament was cumulative.

Although the tournament attracted talent from Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, California extempers dominated the final rounds. The only non-California extemper to make a final round was Kshitiz Singh of Desert Vista High School (AZ), who placed fifth in United States Extemp.

Extempers that reached each final round will receive National Points Race points due to the fact that James Logan is a fifth tier tournament in the National Points Race. Since each final round had seven finalists, only the top six will receive points.

Here are the results of the 2016 James Logan MLK Invitational (Click here for tab sheet):

2016 Stanford National Invitational: Xu Sweeps Both Extemp Categories For First National Points Race Win of the Season

By geniao44446

On January 21, 2016

In National Circuit Results

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Moving from its traditional February date, this year’s Stanford National Invitational, a fifth tier tournament in the National Points Race, attracted a smaller field. Twenty-six competitors faced off in International Extemp and twenty-four in United States Extemp and Brian Xu of San Marino High School (CA) took the titles in both categories. Xu defeated Michelle Huang of Irvington High School (CA) in International Extemp and teammate Joseph Kiang in United States Extemp. These wins give Xu his first victory in a National Points Race tournament this season.

Since Stanford allowed competitors to double in both extemp categories, our “St. Mark’s formula” was used to determine which competitors would receive National Points Race points. Xu, Kiang, and Huang occupied the top three places and there were several ties for the other points. As a result, Connor Wright of Lodi High School (CA) and Jennifer Xiao of San Marino High School will share the fourth place points awarded for Stanford and Karisa Anand of Sierra Canyon High School (CA) and Micalyn Strubble of College Preparatory (CA) will share sixth place points.

Here are the results of the 2016 Stanford National Invitational (Click here for tab sheet):

2016 Montgomery Bell Academy Extemp Round Robin: Balaji Overcomes Graham and Sloane in the Final Round to Win the First Major Championship of 2016

By geniao44446

On January 6, 2016

In MBA Coverage, National Circuit Results

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After two days of close and fierce competition in Nashville, Vaikunth Balaji of Ridge High School (NJ) emerged as the winner of the 2016 Montgomery Bell Extemp Round Robin. Balaji survived ten grueling rounds of competition against some of the best extempers in the nation, edging National Points Race leader Justin Graham of Trinity Preparatory School (FL) by one rank. His win marks the first time that a Ridge extemper placed in the top six of the Round Robin and he is the first New Jersey extemper to win the tournament since 2009, when Matt Arons of Millburn High School took home the title.

This year’s Round Robin was the closest in two years, with Balaji, Graham, and third place finisher Marshall Sloane of Milton Academy (MA) all entering the ninth round of the tournament tied for the lead. In the tenth round, Balaji’s picket fencing of his round was better than Graham’s 1-1-2 performance in another section. Sloane was matched up with Balaji and went straight two’s, leaving him three ranks behind Balaji when the tournament concluded.

In many ways, Balaji’s win was a come-from-behind effort as he began the tournament in fifth place after the first round. He maneuvered his way into the top three after round three, while Graham took the lead in the tournament after round five. Graham would hold that position going into the very last round. In fact, Balaji went from third to first after the tenth round and he never led the tournament until the very end.

Sloane was the only non-senior to finish in the top six. The top six also included Saint Mark’s International Extemp winner Micah Cash of Booker T. Washington High School (OK), Glenbrooks winner Marshall Webb of Saint Mary’s Hall (TX), and Daniel Drane of Des Moines Roosevelt High School (IA).

Balaji will receive 150 National Points Race points for his victory since MBA is a second tier tournament. The win is his first major championship and second victory at a Nationals Points Race tournament this season.

Here are the results of the 2016 Montgomery Bell Academy Extemp Round Robin:

2015 George Mason University Patriot Games: Judges’ Preference Gives Saffran His Second National Points Race Tournament Title of the Season; Des Moines Roosevelt Places Two in the Final Round

By geniao44446

On December 16, 2015

In National Circuit Results

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The first half of the 2015-2016 national circuit calendar is in the books with the conclusion of the George Mason University Patriot Games two weeks ago in Fairfax, Virginia. Nathaniel Saffran of Trinity Preparatory School (FL) won his second National Points Race contest of the season, edging Jacob Thompson of Des Moines Roosevelt High School (IA) by judges’ preference. Saffran and Thompson traded first place ranks in the final round, with Saffran’s accumulation of three one’s enabling him to overcome an errant sixth place rank. Saffran will receive 100 points in the National Points Race for his win since George Mason is a third tier tournament.

Observers of the national circuit may have expected Trinity to place multiple finalists, but that honor went to Des Moines Roosevelt instead. In addition to Thompson, the school placed Daniel Drane in the final round, with Drane finishing fourth behind Saffran, Thompson, and Justin Cooper of Scarsdale High School (NY).

National Points Race leader and last year’s Patriot Games runner-up Justin Graham of Trinity Preparatory was eliminated in the quarter-finals. Graham did win the tournament’s Round Robin competition, though. Other notables that made an early exit in quarter-finals included Vaikunth Balaji of Ridge High School (NJ) and Brian Xu of San Marino High School (CA).

Here are the results of the 2015 George Mason University Patriot Games (Click here for tab sheet):

2015 Glenbrooks: Webb Wins Second National Circuit Title; Trinity Preparatory Places Three in the Final Round

By geniao44446

On November 27, 2015

In National Circuit Results

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This year’s Glenbrooks, the first third tier tournament of the year in the National Points Race, attracted 101 competitors and Marshall Webb of Saint Mary’s Hall (TX) was this year’s champion. Webb, who was the top extemper at the St. Mark’s Heart of Texas Invitational last month, won the tournament by five ranks over Brian Xu of San Marino High School (CA).

Trinity Preparatory School (FL) had another impressive showing at a major national circuit event, placing three of its extempers in the final round. Nathaniel Saffran, the winner of the New York City Invitational last month, placed third, National Points Race leader Justin Graham took fourth, and Varun Bhatia finished fifth.

Webb will receive 100 points in the National Points Race as a result of his victory. He becomes the second extemper this year to win two national circuit tournaments. He also becomes the first Texas extemper to win the Glenbrooks since 2007, when Ian Panchevre of Tom C. Clark High School took the title.

Here are the results from the 2015 Glenbrooks (Click here for tab sheet):

2015 Florida Blue Key: Graham Dominates Both Halves, Increases National Points Race Lead

By geniao44446

On November 26, 2015

In National Circuit Results

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At this year’s Florida Blue Key, National Points Race leader Justin Graham of Trinity Preparatory School (FL) routed the competition, decisively winning both extemp categories. Graham cruised to an easy victory in International Extemp, picket fencing the final round and defeating Jacob Levenson of Nova Senior High School (FL) by eight ranks. In United States Extemp, Graham took four of the five available first place ranks in the final round and defeated Jacob Thompson of Des Moines Roosevelt High School (IA) by six ranks. This was the second consecutive year that Graham won the U.S. Extemp portion of the tournament.

Despite the fact that Blue Key allows for extempers to double enter, Graham and Levenson were the only extempers to final in both categories. This made the awarding of National Points Race points less clear, but the top six extempers throughout the whole tournament will receive credit. Graham will receive forty points for the tournament, thereby allowing him to add to his National Points Race lead.

Here are the results of the 2015 Florida Blue Key (Click here for tab sheet):

2015 St. Mark’s Heart of Texas Invitational: Cash and Webb Split Titles; Five Extempers Place in Both Final Rounds

By geniao44446

On November 25, 2015

In National Circuit Results

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While East Coast extempers were dueling it out in New York City, extempers in Texas and Oklahoma battled at the St. Mark’s Heart of Texas Invitational. This year’s tournament featured split winners in International and United States Extemp, with Micah Cash of Booker T. Washington High School (OK) winning International Extemp and Marshall Webb of Saint Mary’s Hall (TX) winning United States Extemp.

Since St. Mark’s allows extempers to compete in both categories, there was a great deal of overlap in the final rounds. Cash, Webb, Aprotim Basu-Roy of Westlake High School (TX), Ruprasri Shankar of Plano Senior High School (TX), and Neil Patel of Plano West Senior High School (TX) were those that pulled off the “St. Mark’s double.”

To determine who the top six extempers were at the tournament for National Points Race purposes, Extemp Central uses a formula that awards points for specific finishes. Based on our calculations, Webb was the best extemper at the tournament, having won one of the categories and finishing second in another. As a result, he will receive forty National Points Race points.

Here are the results of the 2015 St. Mark’s Heart of Texas Invitational:

2015 New York City Invitational: Trinity Preparatory Keeps Rolling as Saffran and Graham Take Top Two

By geniao44446

On November 25, 2015

In National Circuit Results

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Last month, the Bronx High School of Science in New York City hosted their annual New York City Invitational Tournament and Trinity Preparatory School (FL) continued their impressive showing on the national circuit, taking the top two places. Nathaniel Saffran won his first national circuit title over the season by five ranks over Justin Graham, who won the Wake Forest National Earlybird in September. Christopher Mayer of Montville Township High School (NJ) finished in third place, eight ranks behind Saffran.

Saffran’s victory was owed largely to his impressive showing in preliminary rounds, which he exited with a score of six, and a dominating performance in his semi-final round, where he took straight 1’s. Saffran had a cumulative score of sixteen in the final round versus Graham’s eleven, but rough quarter-final and semi-final performances were too much for Graham to overcome to win the tournament.

Saffran will earn forty National Points Race points for his victory. All of the finalists earn National Points Race points with the exception of Vaikunth Balaji of Ridge High Schol (NJ), this year’s Yale champion, as he finished seventh. National Points Race points are only awarded to the top six for fifth tier tournaments.

Several extempers in the final round improved on their performances from last year’s event. Graham moved up one spot from third to second, while Charlie Barton of Regis High School (NY) and Jacob Levenson of Nova Senior High School (FL) moved from the semi-finals into the final round. Barton took fourth at the tournament, while Levenson finished sixth.

Here are the results of the 2015 New York City Invitational (Click here for tab sheet):

2015 Yale Invitational: Balaji Wins First National Circuit Championship; Graham Takes Second

By geniao44446

On September 26, 2015

In National Circuit Results

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Last weekend at Yale University, Vaikunth Balaji of Ridge High School (NJ) foiled Justin Graham‘s efforts of winning a second consecutive National Points Race event. Balaji defeated Graham, who competes for Trinity Preparatory School (FL), by eight ranks in the cumulative tournament to receive seventy points in this year’s National Points Race competition. His victory is the first by a New Jersey extemper since Chase Harrison of Millburn High School won Yale as a sophomore in 2011.

New Jersey and Florida each had two extempers in the final round, with Andrew Langford of Lake Highland Preparatory (FL) finishing third and Christopher Mayer of Montville Township High School (NJ) finishing sixth.

All of the extempers that reached the semi-final round will receive National Points Race points and earn an automatic bid to the University of Kentucky Tournament of Champions (TOC). Per last season’s Extemp TOC guidelines, those extempers who reached the quarter-finals will receive a qualifying leg.

Here are the results of the 2015 Yale Invitational (Click here for tab sheet):

2015 Wake Forest National Earlybird: Graham Picks Up Where He Left Off Last Season, Becomes Second Trinity Prep Winner in Three Years

By geniao44446

On September 16, 2015

In National Circuit Results

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Justin Graham of Trinity Preparatory School (FL) wasted no time getting back to the top of the 2015-2016 National Points Race, winning the Wake Forest National Earlybird by four ranks over teammate Varun Bhatia. Graham led the standings for much of the second semester before he was overtaken at the last moment at NSDA Nationals by eventual winner Brian Anderson. Graham took three of the five available first place ranks in the final round.

Graham’s win is the second for Trinity Preparatory in three years. Miles Saffran won Wake Forest in 2013 en route to eventually winning the 2014 NSDA International Extemp National Championship.

As is usually true of Wake Forest, schools from Southern states were well-represented in elimination rounds. In fact, Justin Cooper of Scarsdale High School (NY), who took fifth place, was the only student from a non-Southern school to place in the top twelve.

The size of the field at Wake Forest means that all of the extempers that reached the final round will earn an automatic entry into the 2016 University of Kentucky Tournament of Champions (TOC). Furthermore, according to last year’s Extemp TOC guidelines, all finalists at Wake Forest also receive a bid to that tournament.

Here are the results of the 2015 Wake Forest National Earlybird (Click here for tab sheet):

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

By geniao44446

On May 5, 2015

In Extemp TOC, National Circuit Results

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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):