This was the first season that the Princeton Classic, held on the campus of Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey from December 6-8, was a National Points Race event. A field of 81 extempers attended, mostly drawn from Northeast, although other extempers came from Ohio and Florida.
#16 Anthony Babu of Concord-Carlisle High School (MA) was the highest ranked competitor in the field and the reigning NSDA International Extemp National Champion lived up to the billing, winning the cumulative tournament by four ranks. Babu took four of the five available first place ranks in the final round, defeating Arya Goyal of Scardsale High School (NY). It is Babu’s first National Points Race tournament win of the season and his second final round appearance. He placed second at the New York City Invitational in October.
Unlike the University of Texas-Austin Longhorn Classic, there was more spacing in the placing of competitors at Princeton. John Germak of Regis High School (NY) was third, nine ranks back of Babu and five of Goyal. But seven ranks separated Germak from fourth place finisher Daniela Holden of the Berkeley Carroll School (NY). There was also a four rank gap between Shane Quadras of Regis and Manuela Mejia-Fanjul of the Convent of the Sacred Heart (NY) for fifth place.
Scarsdale High School had the best showing as a team, placing five extempers in elimination rounds.
Princeton was selected as a fourth tier event to begin the season so Babu will receive 70 points for his victory. All competitors who reached the semi-final round will receive points.
Here are the results of the 2024 Princeton Classic (Click here for tab sheet):