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Texas usually hosts one of the largest state tournaments in the country and this year’s Texas Forensic Association (TFA) State Tournament lived up to that billing by attracting more than one hundred competitors in International Extemp and ninety-nine competitors in United States Extemp.
In International Extemp, Abhinav Sridharan of Plano Senior High School successfully defended his state championship, achieving a dominating eight rank victory over second place finisher Matthew Feng of Plano West High School. Sridharan took four of the five available first place ranks in the final round. Sridharan becomes the first extemper to win consecutive International Extemp titles at TFA since Jeff Geels of Southlake Carroll High School won three consecutive championships between 2003 and 2005. Junyuan Tan of Alief Kerr High School was the third place finisher.
Saint Mary’s Hall won its first TFA extemp championship in United States Extemp when Marshall Webb edged out Neil Patel of Plano West High School by one rank. Webb won a majority of the first place ranks in the final round, but Patel’s string of second place ranks was nearly enough to win as Webb’s other two final round ranks were three’s. David Dam of Westwood High School finished in third place.
All of the finalists at the tournament received an automatic qualification to the 2015 Extemp TOC at Northwestern University. Six extempers were not previously qualified to this year’s TOC and thereby earn an entry into the tournament this May.
Here are the results of the 2015 Texas Forensic Association State Tournament (Click here for tab sheet)