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With the NSDA topic area analysis in the books, Extemp Central can refocus its attention on the state tournament results of the last two months. This second state tournament recap provides results for competitions in Louisiana, Nebraska, and Virginia.
Nebraska State Activities Association State Tournament
Nebraska has six different classes at its state tournament. The University of Nebraska at Kearney played host to all six state competitions on March 26 and March 27.
This year’s state tournament featured several historical firsts as schools walked away with their first extemporaneous speaking state champion. Oluwakamiye Obaro of Millard West won his school’s first title in Class A, defeating Raja Mediratta of Millard North High School by two ranks. Similarly, David City High School won its first extemporaneous title when Allegra Hardin went straight one’s in the final round of Class B and secured a comfortable six rank margin of victory. Class D1 and D2 also saw first-time winners as Jake Senff of Shelton High School defeated Breanna Lemke-Elznic of Winside High School by one rank and Colin Erickson of Rock County High School defeated defending champion Isaiah Miller by one rank.
In Class C1, Abhinav Suresh of Omaha Bronwell-Talbot High School successfully defended his state championship by one rank over teammate Caravaggio Caniglia.
And in Class C2, Elliot Gonnella put Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinaeur High School back in the winner’s circle for the first time since 2002 when he defeated Nathalie Ford of Sutton High School by judges’ preference.
Class A (Click here for tab sheet)
Champion: Oluwakamiye Obaro (Millard West High School)
2nd: Raja Mediratta (Millard North High School)
3rd: Jacob Moore (Lincoln Southeast High School)
4th: Jordan Wong (Kearney High School)
5th: Katlyn Martin (Omaha Marian High School)
6th: Cooper Christiancy (Lincoln Southwest High School)
7th: Drew Steinhauser (Norfolk High School)
8th: Kalynn Stoner (North Platte High School)
Class B (Click here for tab sheet)
Champion: Allegra Hardin (David City High School)
2nd: Johnathon Boyd (Gering High School)
3rd: Zachary Starman (Mount Michael Benedictine High School)
4th: Benjamin Larsen (Blair High School)
5th: Waleed Rehman (David City High School)
6th: Clinton Lowe (Norris High School)
Class C1 (Click here for tab sheet)
Champion: Abhinav Suresh (Omaha Brownell-Talbot High School)
2nd: Caravaggio Caniglia (Omaha Brownell-Talbot High School)
3rd: John Stuart (Kearney Catholic High School)
4th: Brandon Unverferth (Raymond Central High School)
5th: Lauren Taylor (Raymond Central High School)
6th: Jared Fuelberth (Hartington-Newcastle High School)
Class C2 (Click here for tab sheet)
Champion: Elliot Gonnella (Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinaeur High School)
2nd: Nathalie Ford (Sutton High School)
3rd: Cody McCain (Tri County High School)
4th: Jessica Larkins (Freeman High School)
5th: Ethan Schantz (Crofton High School)
6th: Sarah Smith (Creighton Community High School)
Class D1 (Click here for tab sheet)
Champion: Jake Senff (Shelton High School)
2nd: Breanna Lemke-Elznic (Winside High School)
3rd: Jon Krings (Humphrey St. Francis High School)
4th: Rebecca Hiatt (West Boyd High School)
5th: Jacob Whisenhunt (Maxwell High School)
6th: Adyson Furlong (Bertrand High School)
Class D2 (Click here for tab sheet)
Champion: Colin Erickson (Rock County High School)
2nd: Isaiah Miller (Leigh High School)
3rd: Erika Ruhnke (Lindsay Holy Family High School)
4th: Tate Schmaderer (Stuart High School)
5th: Brody Hupp (Pope John High School)
6th: Emma Franklin (Wallace High School)
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Virginia High School League State Tournament
Like Nebraska, Virginia also has six classes – referred to as groups – for its state tournament. The Virginia High School League State Tournament took place on March 28 at Clover Hill High School in Midlothian Virginia.
In Group 6A, Josh Wartel of Lake Braddock Secondary School won his third consecutive state championship, becoming the one of two competitors to defend a state title at the tournament. Wartel defeated Caroline King of Patrick Henry High School-Roanoke in the final round.
In addition to Wartel, Stephen Woolwine of Bland High School defended his state title in Group A, defeating James Davis of Altavista High School.
Group 4A could have seen a repeat winner, but Jack Beddle of Salem High School-Salem emerged as tournament champion. Defending champion Akash Raje of Midlothian High School finished third, while Jonathan Corbin of Fluvanna County High School took second.
Other state winners included Victoria Bevard of the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Group 5A, Ideen Ashraf of Blacksburg High School in Group 3A, and Luke Basham of Central High School-Wise in Group 2A.
Group 6A
Champion: Josh Wartel (Lake Braddock Secondary School)
2nd: Caroline King (Patrick Henry High School-Roanoke)
3rd: Julian Levy-Myers (South Lakes High School)
Group 5A
Champion: Victoria Bevard (Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology)
2nd: Jela Shiver (Thomas Edison High School)
3rd: Emma Goshgarian (Princess Anne High School)
Group 4A
Champion: Jack Beedle (Salem High School-Salem)
2nd: Jonathan Corbin (Fluvanna County High School)
3rd: Akash Raje (Midlothian High School)
Group 3A
Champion: Ideen Ashraf (Blacksburg High School)
2nd: Sophia LaRuth (Lafayette High School)
3rd: Anupam Pokharel (Blacksburg High School)
Group 2A
Champion: Luke Basham (Central High School-Wise)
2nd: Dustin Cone (Madison County High School)
3rd: Chandler Vaughan (Randolph-Henry High School)
Group A
Champion: Stephen Woolwine (Bland High School)
2nd: James Davis (Altavista High School)
3rd: Brittny Price (Cumberland High School)
—–
Louisiana High School Speech League Tournament of Champions
The Louisiana High School Speech League hosted its annual State Tournament of Champions at Mount Carmel Academy in New Orleans from March 31 to April 2. At the tournament, David Ramachandran of Ruston High School claimed his first state championship over Nicolas Juarez of Lafayette High School. Isidore Newman’s bid for a repeat state winner fell short as Christy Mo finished sixth.
Champion: David Ramachandran (Ruston High School)
2nd: Nicolas Juarez (Lafayette High School)
3rd: Timothy Shertzer (Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts)
4th: Olivia Feucht (Teurlings Catholic High School)
5th: Parker Leblanc (Comeaux High School)
6th: Christy Mo (Isidore Newman School)