2021-2022 Extemp Central National Points Race: New Standings Released to Reflect the Montgomery Bell Academy Extemp Round Robin!

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On March 10, 2022

In National Points Race

Updated standings for the 2021-2022 Extemp Central National Points Race have been posted!  You can find them by clicking on the “National Points Race” tab at the top of the page or by clicking here.

The new standings reflect the results of last weekend’s Montgomery Bell Academy Extemp Round Robin, a second tier tournament that saw McKinley Paltzik of Phoenix Country Day School (AZ) win her third National Points Race event of the season.  Paltzik earned 150 points for her MBA victory.

State tournaments and national qualifiers dominate the calendar until late April, when the National Points Race resumes at the University of Kentucky Tournament of Champions (TOC).  The UK TOC will be a fourth tier event, awarding 70 points to its winner.

Extemp Central News Quiz for the Week of March 7-13, 2022

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On March 9, 2022

In Quiz

Here is this week’s Extemp Central news quiz.  Good luck!

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

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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:

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HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of March 7-13, 2022

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On March 7, 2022

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Will foreign fighters help Ukraine turn the tide against Russia?
2. In light of economic difficulties, should China continue its present rate of military spending?
3. Are Pakistan’s women’s marches accomplishing their objectives?
4. Should NATO impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine’s nuclear power plants?
5. Will Danish voters approve joining the EU’s defense policy?
6. What steps can Moldova take to protect its territorial integrity and deter Russian aggression?
7. Is the Sahel the new home of international terrorism?
8. If North Korea developed a spy satellite, what impact would that have on East Asian security?
9. How can the international community alleviate food shortages that will come from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine?
10. Are Germany’s green energy efforts failing?

HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of March 7-13, 2022

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On March 7, 2022

In U.S. Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Should presidents continue to give the State of the Union in person?
2. What impact will higher gas prices have on the 2022 midterm elections?
3. To what extent will Beto O’Rourke’s failed presidential bid be used against him in the Texas gubernatorial election?
4. What should President Biden do if Russia launches massive cyberwarfare attacks on the United States?
5. Should President Biden seek out a new Secretary of Energy?
6. Do more states need to mirror Florida’s example and create an Election Crimes Agency?
7. Should the Biden administration lift its moratorium on federal executions?
8. Will complications with California’s reparations efforts scuttle a larger, national effort?
9. Is it too late for President Biden to salvage his domestic agenda?
10. Will Jessica Cisneros win her runoff election with Representative Henry Cuellar?

R&D from Prepd: The Nomination of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court

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On March 4, 2022

In R&D, U.S. Extemp

Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd (pronounced “prepped”). Prepd is building debate technology that helps extempers and congressional debaters research, practice, and compete. Visit www.prepd.in to learn more.

This week’s R&D from Prepd covers President Biden’s nomination of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court.  Justice Brown, a graduate of Harvard Law School, is currently on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.  If confirmed, she would be the first African-American woman to serve on the Court.  The Senate is expected to confirm Brown, who’s nomination cannot be filibustered as per Senate rules.

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2022 State Tournament Results: February State Tournament Round Up (Montana, Maine, Alaska, Illinois, Arizona & New Mexico)

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On March 3, 2022

In State Results

The 2021-2022 postseason has begun, with state tournaments taking place in Montana, Maine, Alaska, Illinois, Arizona, and New Mexico.  Extemp Central congratulates all of those who made the finals of their respective state championships, and also congratulates those who won state titles.

From now until May, Extemp Central will be providing recaps of state tournaments.  Sometimes these columns will appear weekly.  Sometimes monthly.  But regardless, we will do our best to give recognition to extempers doing great things at the state level.

We will also be rolling out our NSDA national qualifying boards, with more information to come about those next week.

Here is a roundup of results for state championships in the states listed above:

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Extemp Central News Quiz for the Week of February 28-March 6, 2022

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On March 2, 2022

In Quiz

Here is this week’s Extemp Central news quiz.  Good luck!

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HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of February 28-March 6, 2022

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On February 28, 2022

In U.S. Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. What impact will sanctions against Russia have on the U.S. economy?
2. Will former President Trump’s comments on the Russia-Ukrainian War come back to haunt him in 2024?
3. If confirmed, how would Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson affect the dynamics of the Supreme Court?
4. Does the U.S. need to use new metrics to inform policymakers decisions on COVID-19?
5. What lessons should U.S. defense officials learn from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine?
6. Could Russia’s invasion of Ukraine be a springboard for Republican moderates to regain control of the party?
7. Will facial recognition by U.S. Customs make America safer?
8. In light of recent international events, should the Federal Reserve still raise interest rates?
9. Should the Biden administration attempt to revive the Trans-Pacific Partnership?
10. Is self-censorship a growing problem in American higher education?

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of February 28-March 6, 2022

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On February 28, 2022

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Are the Baltics next?
2. Does Russia’s invasion of Ukraine illustrate the need for procedural reforms at the UN Security Council?
3. How will international sanctions against Russia affect the global economy?
4. Should Finland join NATO?
5. Will refugees from Ukraine push the politics of Eastern European countries further to the political right?
6. How can the democratic world regain its footing against the world’s authoritarians?
7. Why is inflation surging in Brazil?
8. Has globalization made the ability to sanction bad international actors harder?
9. Should Cambodia cast its lot with China or the United States?
10. Is Kuwait backsliding on human rights?

2021-2022 Extemp Central National Points Race: New Standings Released to Reflect Harvard and the California Invitational!

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On February 25, 2022

In National Points Race

Updated standings for the 2021-2022 Extemp Central National Points Race have been posted!  You can find them by clicking on the “National Points Race” tab at the top of the page or by clicking here.

The new standings reflect the results of last weekend’s Harvard National Forensics Tournament and the California Invitational.  Harvard’s winner, Marc Zavarro of Western High School (FL), earned 150 points for his win, while Thomas Vandenberg of Flintridge Preparatory School (CA) earned 100 points for winning the California Invitational.

Extemp Central had also planned on counting the Marshall Mini-Spectacular since the Marshall Speech Spectacular was typically a big Midwestern event.  However, only four extempers competed at the Mini-Spectacular last weekend so Extemp Central made the executive decision not to count it in this year’s standings.

Next weekend will kick off the postseason phase of the national circuit as the Montgomery Bell Academy Extemp Round Robin will take place in Nashville, Tennessee.  Seven of the top ten competitors in the National Points Race will suit up and compete in an event that could produce more shifts in the standings.

R&D from Prepd: U.S. Response to Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine

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On February 25, 2022

In R&D, U.S. Extemp

Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd (pronounced “prepped”). Prepd is building debate technology that helps extempers and congressional debaters research, practice, and compete. Visit www.prepd.in to learn more.

This week’s R&D covers America’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began two nights ago.  President Joe Biden has initiated economic sanctions against Russian financial firms.  While Western Europe has supported this, allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) like Poland and the Baltic states have demanded more action to solidify their security.  Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that actions taken to thwart the Russian advance in Ukraine will be “unprecedented.”

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

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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):

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Extemp Central News Quiz for the Week of February 21-27, 2022

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On February 23, 2022

In Quiz

Here is this week’s Extemp Central news quiz.  Good luck!

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

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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):

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