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After finishing runner-up at the last four major championships, Justin Graham of Trinity Preparatory School (FL) finally broke through by winning the 2016 National Catholic Forensic League (NCFL) Grand National Tournament in Sacramento, California. The tournament was never in doubt as Graham captured twelve first place ranks (of fourteen available) from octofinals through the final round, thereby turning in one of the most dominant performances in NCFL history. Benjamin Hoffner-Brodsky of Davis Senior High School (CA) took advantage of the home field conditions and placed second.
Aside from Graham, Samhitha Sunkara of Ardrey Kell High School (NC) reached the NCFL final round for the second consecutive season. Sunkara finished three spots better than last year, ending the tournament in third place.
Trinity Preparatory continued its run of solid performances in recent years, placing two competitors in finals. Along with Graham, Varun Bhatia of Trinity made it into the final round and placed sixth.
Kevin Bi of East Ridge High School (MN) and Justin Kang of Syosset High School (NY) rounded out the final round, placing fourth and fifth, respectively. It was the first national final round appearance for both competitors.
All of the competitors that reached the quarter-final round will receive National Points Race points. Graham will receive 100 points for his victory and he created more separation between himself and rivals Vaikunth Balaji of Ridge High School (NJ) and Marshall Sloane of Milton Academy (MA). Balaji and Sloane were both eliminated in the quarter-final round. Balaji is the only competitor that can catch Graham in this year’s points race, but all Graham has to do at next week’s National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) National Tournament is clear to octofinals to clinch the title.
Here are the results of the 2016 NCFL Grand National Tournament (Click here for tab sheet):