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Salina High Central in Salina, Kansas hosted the last of at-large qualifying tournaments to this year’s Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions (TOC) last weekend when it held its Salina High Central Invitational. The Kansas-rich field featured varsity and novice competitions in International and United States Extemp and the tournament was cumulative. El Dorado High School (KS) possessed both champions in the varsity extemp categories as Trey Duran overcame a pre-final round deficit of six ranks to defeat teammate Megan Kline in International Extemp by one and Dakota Yates defeated Alexander Trobough of the Sumner Academy of Arts & Science by four ranks in United States Extemp.
In the novice categories, Spencer Mitchell of Shawnee Mission East High School (KS) defeated Alex Rickard of Newton High School (KS) by three ranks in International Extemp and Brett Kamber of Hutchinson High School (KS) beat Mitch Wagenheim of Shawnee Mission West High School (KS) by two ranks in United States Extemp. Kamber went straight 1’s in his final round.
The tournament did not have enough entries (13 extempers competed in International Extemp and 31 in United States Extemp) to grant legs outside of the varsity final rounds, so although United States Extemp broke to quarter-finals, only those who made its final round earned TOC qualifying legs. Although all of the finalists earned their first TOC qualifying leg, there are no more at-large qualifying tournaments remaining, so they will have to apply for an at-large spot to this year’s field. Since Kansas does not hold its state tournament until May 3rd, its state finalists this season will earn an automatic qualification to the 2015 Extemp TOC instead of this season’s event.
Here are the results of the 2014 Salina High Central Invitational (Click here for tab sheet)