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James Enochs High School hosted the 2014 California High School Speech Association (CHSSA) State Tournament on April 25 through April 27 at James Enochs High School in Modesto. The tournament was cumulative. In International Extemp, Rohan Deskmukh of Carlsbad High School won his school’s first extemp state championship since at least 2003 by defeating Asher Kalman by three ranks. Alex Ye of Gabrielino High School , who won International Extemp at this year’s James Logan High School MLK Invitational (a TOC qualifier), placed third. Defending champion Rohan Dhoopar of Bellarmine College Preparatory, who was a participant at this year’s Montgomery Bell Academy Extemp Round Robin, was knocked out in the semi-finals.
In United States Extemp, Brian Yu of Monte Vista High School successfully defended his state championship, and won the tournament by four ranks over Ankur Mahesh of Bellarmine College Preparatory. Yu was this year’s California Invitational winner and he becomes the third California extemper since 2003 to win the United States Extemp category twice. Jonas Trevethan of Turlock High School finished third.
Six of the extempers in the final rounds of the tournament were non-seniors, and have earned automatic qualifications to next year’s Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions (TOC) at Northwestern University. They are indicated in italics in the results listing.
Here are the results of the 2014 California High School Speech Association State Tournament (Click here for tab sheet):
The Minnesota High School League State Speech Tournament usually attracts attention due to the state’s success over the last decade at the CFL and NSDA national tournaments. The tournament divides its schools into two classes: Class A and Class AA. This year saw Sydney Erhardt of Cannon Falls High School repeat as the Class A state champion and she won the final round by three ranks over Shane Price of Mankato Loyola Catholic School. Nicole Riegert of Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton High School took third place.
North Dakota classes its state speech competitions and the North Dakota High School Activities Association Class A State Speech Tournament took place at Jamestown High School on April 12. Thomas Startz continued Fargo Shanley High School’s dominance in extemporaneous speaking, winning the state championship over William Fleck of Mandan High School. Since 2009, Fargo Shanley has won the state extemporaneous speaking title. Kelsey Becker of Jamestown High School took third place.
Oklahoma divides its state tournament competition into four groups (3A-6A) and then separates those groups into International and United States Extemporaneous Speaking categories. In 6A, Booker T. Washington High School had a great run as Arel Rende, this year’s Harvard winner and last year’s NFL national champion in U.S. Extemp, won his third straight state championship in U.S. Extemp. Rende’s teammate Patrick Wilson won International Extemp. In 5A, Josh Yoo of Metro Christian Academy won International Extemp and Peter Simmons of Bishop Kelley High School won United States Extemp. Muldrow High School swept the 4A categories as Taylor Putnam won International Extemp and Jessie Hearn won United States Extemp. And in 3A, Eli Hobbs of Haskell High School won International Extemp for the second straight year and Tom Crews of Okarche High School won United States Extemp.
Iona Preparatory School continued its hold on the New York state extemporaneous speaking championship as Graham Piro won this year’s New York State Forensic League Championship Tournament two weeks ago. The tournament, held at Delaware Academy in Delhi, New York, saw Piro win his first state championship, the second in as many years for Iona Preparatory, by one rank over Christopher Lee of Regis High School. Piro entered the final round two ranks behind, but won the final round by three ranks to win the cumulative tournament. Lee’s teammate, Michael Faucher, finished third as Regis placed more extempers in the final round than any other school.
The Massachusetts Speech and Debate League hosted its State Championship Speech and Congress Tournament on April 5th at Acton-Boxborough Regional High School in Acton, Massachusetts. The tournament featured an upset as Marshall Sloane of Milton Academy, a freshman, defeated George Mason University Patriot Games winner Jasper Primack of Newton South High School. In the cumulative tournament, Sloane defeated Primack by two ranks, but Primack won the final round. Sloane becomes the first Massachusetts state extemp champion for Milton Academy since 2008. Since both competitors are underclassmen, it is very likely that Sloane and Primack will be battling again at next year’s tournament. Newton South had three extempers in the final round, which was more than any other school. Primack’s temmate, Jason Ma, finished in third place.
Two weeks ago, the Idaho High School Activities Association State Speech Tournament was held and Josh Mansfield of Highland High School emerged as the 2014 state extemporaneous speaking champion. Mansfield triumphed in the final round by four ranks over Blake Dewveall of Blackfoot High School. Mansfield’s title is the first for Highland High School since 2011 and the school had more extempers in the final round that any other program in attendance. Mansfield’s teammate, Anurag Tripathy, took fourth. Abby Poelstra of Lake City High School placed third.
Like Virginia, Nebraska has six classes for its state championship tournament and this year’s Nebraska School Activities Association State Tournament crowned six new state champions in extemporaneous speaking. Walter Paul of Creighton Preparatory School won Class A, Katlyn Martin of Omaha Marian High School won Class B, Ahinav Suresh of Omaha Brownell-Talbot High School won Class C1, Scott Smith of Nebraska Christian School won Class C2, Matthew Martin of Lourdes Central Catholic School won Class D1, and Isaiah Miller of Leigh High School won Class D2.
Prior to the 2013-2014 season, the Virginia High School League (VHSL) adopted a six division realignment and this led to six state champions being crowned at this year’s VHSL state tournament instead of three, which was the norm for the last few years. Two extempers repeated as state champions at the tournament with Josh Wartel of Lake Braddock Secondary School, the winner of 3A extemp last season, winning the 6A category and Sierra Weaver of Madison County High School, the winner of A extemp last year, winning the 2A category. Other category winners included Sean Wells of Warwick High School in 5A, Akash Raje of Midlothian High School in 4A, Tanya Hoatson of Lafayette High School in 3A, and Stephen Woolwine of Bland/Rocky Gap High School in A.
James Madison Memorial High School dominated last weekend’s 2014 Wisconsin Forensic Coaches Association (WFCA) State Tournament, capturing the top three places in the tournament. Alekh Kale won the state championship by three ranks over Rasika Ramanathan. Vishal Narawaynaswamy finished third. Kale’s victory marks the fourth time in the last six years that James Madison Memorial has taken the Wisconsin state extemp title. The school has had seven students win the championship since 2000.
Susquehanna University played host to this year’s Pennsylvania High School Speech League (PHSSL) State Tournament and Noah Katcher of Altoona Area High School captured this year’s state extemporaneous speaking championship over Collin Quigley of Holy Ghost Preparatory. Quigley was attempting to give Holy Ghost consecutive state extemp winners, but fell just short in the final round. Donnie Stephens of Holy Redeemer High School was the third place finisher in a final round where each of the six finalists came from different schools.
Last weekend the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) State Tournament took place in Highlands Ranch, Colorado and two new state champions were crowned. International Extemp was a battle between two MBA Extemp Round Robin participants, as Gabe Slater of Denver East High School captured the state title over Jack Glaser of George Washington High School. Denver East High School had three of the six participants in the International Extemp final round.
Fishers High School in Fishers, Indiana was the site of this year’s Indiana High School Forensic Association (IHSFA) State Speech Tournament. Munster High School was the most dominant school in extemporaneous speaking, placing five of the twelve finalists in International and United States Extemporaneous Speaking. Four of those five finalists finished in the top three of their respective category. In International Extemp, Sidarth Singh of Munster edged teammate Rathnam Venkat to capture the title. Singh is the first Munster extemper to capture International Extemp since 2002. Christian Sayers of Valparaiso High School finished third.
Brian Anderson of LaRue County High School completed a successful defense of his extemporaneous speaking state title at this year’s Kentucky High School Speech League (KHSSL) State Championship. The tournament, held at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky, featured forty-four extempers, and Anderson emerged victorious by two ranks over Sue Cook of Danville High School. Anderson’s repeat is the first since Logan Scisco of Danville won consecutive state titles in 2003 and 2004. Anderson’s win also gives him possession of both of the state’s extemp titles (The Kentucky Educational Speech and Drama Association hosts the state’s other state tournament) for the second straight year. Jared Thomas of Harrison County High School, who finished second to Anderson at last year’s state tournament, placed third.
Texas hosted the largest of the state tournaments held last weekend as more than one hundred extempers competed in International and United States Extemp at the 2014 Texas Forensic Association (TFA) State Tournament. Despite the large field, Plano Senior High School won both categories. In International Extemp, Abhinav Sridharan won by four ranks over Azhar Hussain of Southlake Carroll Senior High School. Sridharan becomes the first Plano Senior extemper to win International Extemp since 1989. Gregory Ross of Lamar High School (Houston) took third.