Category: National Circuit Results Page 5 of 12

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

On November 25, 2015

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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):

2015 Harvard National High School Forensic Invitational: Graham Achieves a Convincing Victory, Regains #1 Ranking

By geniao44446

On February 19, 2015

In National Circuit Results

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More than 200 extempers attended this year’s Harvard National High School Forensic Invitational, making it the largest national circuit tournament of the 2014-2015 season. However, weather conditions led to the tournament having a truncated schedule and deciding to break to quarter-finals after four rounds. This resulted in a break of just over ten percent of the field and some of the better national circuit competitors coming just shy of the break.

Despite the difficuties, elimination rounds did feature some strong competition, with six of the top fifteen extempers in the National Points Race participating. Justin Graham of Trinity Preparatory School (FL) won his second National Points Race tournament of the year, defeating Shawn Kant of Ridge High School (NJ) by seven ranks in the final round. Graham will earn 150 points for his victory, as Harvard is a second tier tournament, and this will move him back into first place in the National Points Race. He is also the first Florida extemper to win Harvard since at least 2002.

Eitan Sapiro-Gheiler of Durham Academy (NC) finished the tournament in third place, which gives him his sixth National Points final round placing of the season. That is more than any other extemper this season.

Patrick Wilson‘s attempt at giving Booker T. Washington High School (OK) its second Harvard winner in as many years came up short, as he ended the tournament in fourth place.

Two extempers – Abhinav Karale of the Delbarton School (NJ) and Rupasri Shankar of Plano Senior High School (TX) – finalized their 2015 Extemp TOC at-large bids at Harvard.

All of the finalists also earned an automatic qualification to the 2015 University of Kentucky TOC.

Here are the results of the 2015 Harvard National High School Forensic Invitational (Click here for tab sheet):

2015 California Invitational: Hu Wins Second Consecutive National Points Race Tournament; Defending Champion Yu Takes Fifth

By geniao44446

On February 18, 2015

In National Circuit Results

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Ethan Hu of Leland High School (CA) has used the last two weeks of California tournaments to establish himself as one of the top extempers in the country. After doing the best of any extemper in both extemp categories at Stanford, Hu went on to win last week’s California Invitational, defeating more than 100 extempers, and securing his second National Points Race tournament victory of the season. Hu will receive seventy points for his victory since the California Invitational is a fourth tier tournament. Ankur Mahesh of Bellarmine College Preparatory (CA) finished six ranks behind Hu and was the runner-up.

The final round featured some significant names on the national circuit, as Glenbrooks winner Jack Glaser of George Washington High School (CO) finished third and NSDA United States extemp finalist Brian Yu of Monte Vista High School (CA) finished fifth. Yu was trying to become the third extemper to win consecutive California Invitational titles in the last six years.

The California Invitational was the last chance for those extempers carrying one qualifying leg into the tournament to complete their at-large qualification to the 2015 Extemp TOC and six extempers – Kendra Blandon of Cypress Bay High School (FL), Cassandra Dinh of Schurr High School (CA), Arjun Narayan of The Harker School (CA), Connor Sendel of Cherry Creek High School (CO), Bryan Wang of Miramonte High School (CA), Brian Xu of San Marino High School (CA), and Matthew Zheng of Mira Loma High School (CA) – managed to do so.

All of the finalists also earned an automatic qualification to the 2015 University of Kentucky TOC.

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

2015 University of Pennsylvania Liberty Bell Classic: Guiliano Gives Holy Ghost Its First Winner Since 2004; Holy Ghost Takes Top Two

By geniao44446

On February 18, 2015

In National Circuit Results

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The University of Pennsylvania Liberty Bell Classic hosted one of its larger fields in recent years, due in part to the weather difficulties that plagued the Harvard National High School Forensic Invitational. Nick Guiliano of Holy Ghost Preparatory (PA) won this year’s tournament, defeating teammate Collin Quigley by a cumulative total of eight ranks. Guiliano is the first extemper from Holy Ghost to win UPenn since 2004, when Michael Hoffman took the title. He is also the third consecutive Pennsylvania extemper to win the tournament.

The final round featured two extempers that were not from Pennsylvania. Zan Ahmed of Syosset High School (NY) finished third, while Alex Wang of William G. Enloe High School (NC) finished sixth.

All of the extempers that made the final round earned a qualifying leg to the 2015 Extemp TOC at Northwestern University. Guiliano was the only extemper to finalize their at-large qualification. While other extempers earned their first qualifying leg, the TOC qualifying season is over, so they fall short of completing their at-large bid.

All of the finalists also earned an automatic qualification to the University of Kentucky TOC in April.

Here are the results of the 2015 University of Pennsylvania Liberty Bell Classic (Click here for tab sheet):

2015 Stanford National Invitational: Wang and Schwartz Triumph in IX & USX; Hu Secures National Points Race Win

By geniao44446

On February 12, 2015

In National Circuit Results

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The Stanford National Invitational illustrated how different variations of extemp can produce very different results as only one competitor made the final round of International and United States Extemp last weekend in Palo Alto, California. That competitor, Ethan Hu of Leland High School (CA), took fourth in United States Extemp and sixth in International Extemp, and as a result of his finishes he will receive the forty National Points Race points awarded for the tournament. Stanford is the last of fifth tier tournaments in this year’s National Points Race.

Unlike previous years, Stanford was not a cumulative tournament. Instead, the final round determined competitors placing, with speaker points being used to break ties. This is the formula that proved necessary in United States Extemp where Alexander Schwartz of the Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies (CA) tied two-time California USX state champion Brian Yu of Monte Vista High School (CA) in the final round. Both competitors finished the round with cumulative scores of nine, each going 1-2-6 among the three finals judges. Yu won judges preference, but speaker points gave the title to Schwartz.

Things were also close in International Extemp, with Bryan Wang of Miramonte High School (CA) narrowly avoiding a tiebraker by securing a one rank win over Alejandra Larriva-Latt of San Marino High School (CA). Wang went 1-1-6 in the final round, but the errant six did not cost him the tournament.

While both final rounds were dominated by California extempers, Andrew Langford of Lake Highland Preparatory (FL) was the second-best performing extemper across both categories. Langford, who finaled earlier this season at the Glenbrooks and Florida Blue Key, finished third in International Extemp and was a semi-finalist in United States Extemp.

All of the extempers who reached elimination rounds received a qualifying leg to the 2015 Extemp TOC at Northwestern University. Eight extempers – Karisa Anand of Sierra Canyon School (CA); Michelle Huang of Irvington High School (CA); Michael Ligier of Monta Vista High School (CA); Hu, Ann-Kathrin Merz, Akhil Kestur, and Cameron Loftis of Leland; and Joseph Vaysman of North Hollywood High School (CA) – completed their at-large qualifications. Anand, Huang, and Vaysman made the elimination rounds of both categories and secured both of their necessary legs at the tournament. Eleven competitors earned their first qualifying leg. Those receiving a qualifying leg are indicated in italics below.

The finalists in each category also earn an automatic qualification to the University of Kentucky TOC in April.

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

2015 Apple Valley Minneapple: Fenner Gives East Ridge Its Second TOC Win in Three Weeks; Baker Takes Second

By geniao44446

On February 11, 2015

In National Circuit Results

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The three week Minnesota TOC swing ended last weekend in Apple Valley, Minnesota at the Apple Valley Minneapple Speech Tournament. Alex Fenner of East Ridge High School (MN) emerged as the tournament champion, defeating Alex Baker of Eastview High School (MN) by five ranks in the final round. Jacob Thompson of Des Moines Roosevelt High School (IA) took third place.

Fenner’s victory was the second victory for East Ridge High School over the last three weeks of Minnesota TOC tournaments. Noah Eckberg, who won the Chanhassen High School Speech Tournament two weeks ago, also made the final round at Apple Valley. He finished in fourth place.

Aside from Eckberg, Baker was the only other extemper to make the final round at all three tournaments in the Minnesota TOC swing.

All of the extempers who reached the final round earned a qualifying leg to the 2015 Extemp TOC at Northwestern University. Baker completed his at-large qualification, while two other extempers earned their first qualifying leg. This included Fenner. The extempers who earned a qualifying leg are indicated in italics below.

The finalists also earned an automatic qualification to the University of Kentucky TOC in April.

Here are the results of the 2015 Apple Valley Minneapple Speech Tournament (Click here for tab sheet):

2015 Marshall Speech Spectacular: Chanhassen’s Williams Wins First TOC Qualifying Title in Minnesota-Dominated Final Round

By geniao44446

On February 5, 2015

In National Circuit Results

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The Marshall Speech Spectacular, formerly known as the Schwan’s Speech Spectacular, is a fifth tier tournament in this year’s Extemp Central National Points Race. The event typically attracts some of the best competitors in the Midwest and as has been the case in previous years, Minnesota dominated the competition. Haley Williams of Chanhassen High School (MN) captured the tournament title by four ranks over Rishabh Gupta of Eastview High School (MN). Williams received two first place ranks among the three judges in the final round to win the first Extemp TOC qualifying tournament of her career.

Noah Eckberg, who won last week’s Chanhassen High School Speech Tournament, took third place.

The final round featured five extempers from Minnesota, all of whom placed in the top five. Cooper Christiancy of Lincoln Southwest High School (NE) was the sixth place finisher.

All of the extempers who reached the semi-fina round earned a qualifying leg to the 2015 Extemp TOC at Northwest University. Two extempers – Eckberg and Apoorva Malarvannan of Eastview – finalized their at-large qualifications. Six other extempers earned their first qualifying leg. Those receiving a qualifying leg at the tournament are indicated in italics in the results listing.

Here are the results of the 2015 Marshall Speech Spectacular (Click here for tab sheet):

2015 Barkley Forum: Wexler Thwarts Anderson’s Title Defense, Gives Nova Its Third Barkley Win Since 2002

By geniao44446

On January 29, 2015

In National Circuit Results

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More than seventy extempers took part in this year’s Barkley Forum, a fourth tier tournament in the National Points Race. The competition took place on the campus of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Noah Wexler of Nova Senior High School (FL) won his first National Points Race tournament and second Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions (TOC) qualifying event of the year, thwarting Brian Anderson‘s attempt of winning back-to-back titles. Anderson, who competes for LaRue County High School (KY), finished two ranks behind Wexler in the final. Wexler won the tournament without taking a first place rank among the three judges who oversaw the final round, but his 2-2-3 composite was enough to defeat his competitors, none of whom received more than one first place rank. Thomas Abel of the Delbarton School (NJ) placed third, but finished a mere two ranks behind Wexler as well. An errant sixth place rank cost Abel the tournament as it negated his other two ranks – a first and a second – and left him with a composite of nine. Abel’s 1-2-6 score tied him with Anderson, and Anderson won the tiebreak due to speaker points.

As a result of his victory, Wexler will receive seventy points in the National Points Race.

Wexler’s win marks the third time since 2002 that an extemper from Nova High School has won the Barkley Forum. No other school has had multiple winners in that time span. In addition to Wexler, Rana Yared won the event in 2002 – which was the first time that a female extemper won the Barkley Forum – and Jason Bernstein won in 2009. Nova had two extempers in the final, with Oscar Larraza finishing three ranks behind Wexler and taking fourth place.

Ben Tobin of Lake Braddock High School (VA) reached his second National Points Race final of the year at the Barkley Forum and finished fifth. Connor Leech of Durham Academy (NC) made his first appearance in a National Points Race final, finishing sixth.

Although Anderson was not able to defend his extemp title, he did win Oral Interpretation, which might be the first time in the history of the Barkley Forum that a competitor who primarily does extemp has won that category.

All of the extempers who reached the semi-final round earned qualifying legs to the 2015 Extemp TOC at Northwestern University. Each of the six extempers in the final round has previously qualified to the TOC. Four extempers, all of whom are indicated in italics in the results listing, earned their first qualifying leg.

The finalists also earned an automatic qualification to the University of Kentucky TOC in April.

Here are the results of the 2015 Barkley Forum (Click here for tab sheet):

2015 Columbia Invitational: Rinder Defeats Chen by Two Ranks to Claim First TOC Title of the Season; Regis Puts Two Extempers Into the Final Round

By geniao44446

On January 28, 2015

In National Circuit Results

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This year’s Columbia Invitational attracted sixty-two extempers. At the end of seven rounds of competition, Mark Rinder of Freehold Township High School (NJ) emerged as the tournament champion, defeating Teresa Chen of Stuyvesant High School (NY) by two ranks. The tournament was tabbed cumulatively and Rinder won the final round by five ranks, which helped him vault above his fellow competitors and claim his first Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions (TOC) qualifying tournament title of the season.

Charlie Barton of Regis High School (NY) finished in third place, making him one of two Regis extempers in the final round. In addition to Barton, Dylan Kennedy of Regis finished in fifth place.

The defending champion of the tournament was Jasper Primack of Newton South High School (MA), but he did not attend this year’s event.

The top three finishers at Columbia earned a qualifying leg to this year’s Extemp TOC at Northwestern University. Two extempers – Chen and Rinder – completed their at-large qualification to this year’s tournament. Barton was already qualified due to his finishes at Yale and Villiger.

All of the finalists also earned an automatic qualification to the University of Kentucky TOC in April.

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

2015 James Logan MLK Invitational: Dhoopar Defeats Defending Champion Ye in IX; Loftis Edges Out Teammate Venkateswaran in USX

By geniao44446

On January 23, 2015

In National Circuit Results

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The 2014-2015 National Points Race continued last weekend at the James Logan MLK Invitational. The tournament attracted some of the strongest competitors on the West Coast, with California powers such as Bellarmine College Preparatory, James Logan, Leland High School, and Gabrielino High School participating. In International Extemp, Rohan Dhoopar of Bellarmine College Preparatory, who finished third at last year’s National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) national tournament in the category, defeated defending champion Alex Ye of Gabrielino by five ranks. The tournament was tabbed cumulatively and Dhoopar defeated Ye by one rank in the tournament final. Matthew Zheng of Mira Loma High School (CA) took third.

In United States Extemp, Cameron Loftis of Leland won the title by two ranks over teammate Sid Venkateswaran. Loftis won the tournament final by two ranks. Third place finisher Arjun Narayan of the Harker School (CA) placed second in the final round to Loftis.

For the National Points Race, Dhoopar and Loftis will receive forty points for their victories since James Logan is a fifth tier tournament in the standings. Each final round featured seven competitors, so the top six in each category will receive National Points Race points.

All of the competitors who reached the semi-final round earned a qualifying leg to the 2015 Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions (TOC) at Northwestern University. Two extempers – Dhoopar and Addie Glickstien of Denver East High School (CO) – locked up their at-large qualification for this year’s TOC. Fifteen other extempers earned their first qualifying leg. All of the extempers who earned a qualifying leg are indicated in italics below.

The finalists in each category also earned an automatic qualification to the University of Kentucky TOC in April.

Here are the results of the 2015 James Logan MLK Invitational (Click here for tab sheet):

2015 Sunvitational: Stock Upsets Teammate Wexler in a Close Finish; Wexler Wins Round Robin

By geniao44446

On January 15, 2015

In National Circuit Results

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Nova Southeastern University was the site of this year’s Sunvitational, one of the more notable tournaments of the spring semester in the Southeast. Adele Stock of Nova Senior High School (FL) scored an upset win by edging out teammate Noah Wexler, who was coming off of a fourth place finish at the Montgomery Bell Academy Extemp Round Robin, by one rank in the cumulative tournament to claim the championship. Wexler won the final round by one rank, but Stock’s collection of first place ranks in preliminary rounds and quarter-finals helped her claim the title. Justin Graham of Trinity Preparatory School (FL), who currently sits in third place in the National Points Race, was the third place finisher.

Stock’s win builds on a series of final round placings at several National Points Race tournaments last semester. In October she finaled at the New York City Invitational and the International Extemp portion of the Florida Blue Key.

The final round was entirely composed of Florida extempers and was mostly a battle between Nova and Trinity Preparatory extempers. Nova had three extempers in the final round with Sanjay Supan finishing sixth for the team behind Stock and Wexler. Nathaniel Saffran was Trinity Preparatory’s other extemper in the final round. He finished fourth. Isabella DeSheplo of Cypress Bay High School (FL) was the other finalist. She took fifth place honors.

The tournament also featured a Round Robin competition. This was won by Wexler, with Graham finishing six ranks behind. Saffran took third in that competition. Stock did not participate in the Round Robin.

All of the elimination round participants at the Sunvitational earned bids to the 2015 Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions (TOC). Four extempers – Mary Breen of Gwynedd Mercy Academy (PA), Jessica Chow and DeSheplo of Nova, and Jarrek Holmes of Kent Denver School (CO) – earned their second TOC legs to wrap up their at-large qualification to the tournament. Twelve other extempers earned their first bid to the TOC. The extempers who earned a TOC bid are indicated in italics below.

The finalists of the tournament also earned an automatic qualification to the University of Kentucky TOC in April.

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

2015 Southwest Championship: Brown Wins Tight Final Round; Jacobs Finalizes TOC Qualification

By geniao44446

On January 14, 2015

In National Circuit Results

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Extempers from the Southwest competed against each other last week at the aptly named Southwest Championship, hosted by the Arizona State University Forensic Team. Tristan Brown of Brophy College Preparatory (AZ) was the tournament champion, securing a one rank win over Brecken Denler of Mountain View High School (AZ). Brown won two of the three available first place ranks in the final round, but an errant six place rank nearly cost him the title. Clayton Jacobs of Torrey Pines High School (CA) finished in third place.

The final round was also very close, as the top four competitors were separated by only two ranks.

The top three finishers at the tournament received legs for the 2015 Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions (TOC) at Northwestern University. Jacobs finalized his TOC qualification, while Brown and Denler earned their first TOC qualifying leg of the season.

All of the finalists at the tournament earned an automatic qualification to the University of Kentucky TOC in April.

Tempe Preparatory Academy had three outround participants, the most of any other school at the tournament. The school’s highest finisher was Yegor Znkov, who placed sixth.

Here are the results of the 2014 Southwestern Championship (Click here for tab sheet):