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This year’s New Jersey Forensic League State Tournament became a duel between Ridge High School and Montville Township High School, with both schools exchanging wins and second place finishes in the tournament’s International and United States Extemp categories.

In International Extemp, Vaikunth Balaji of Ridge successfully defended his state championship, achieving a two rank victory over Christopher Mayer of Montville. Mark Rinder of Freehold Township High School, the winner of this year’s Columbia Invitational, was the third place finisher.

Montville’s Jay Sirot won his first state championship in United States Extemp, achieving a three-rank margin of victory over Clare Halsey of Ridge. Thomas Abel of the Delbarton School, who finished in the top three of the Barkley Forum in January, finished third.

Two extempers – Mayer and Kyle White of Matawan Regional High School – were not previously qualified to this year’s Extemp TOC at Northwestern University. They earn an automatic qualification by virtue of reaching the final round of their respective extemp category.

At the tournament, Ridge had five extemp finalists, while Montville had three.

Here are the results of the 2015 New Jersey Forensic League State Tournament (Click here for tab sheet):