For their Senior Project, and to earn money for their team, Stephen Gall and Ryan Halen, the Supreme Overlords and High Inquisitors of Practice of the Carson High School Speech and Debate team, held the Northern Nevada Forensics League Speech and Debate Tournament at Carson High School Feb 1st and 2nd.
They sought volunteer judges for the wide variety of speaking and debating events offering them the opportunity to see the best and the brightest engage in a battle of wits and intellect.
Judges covered two hour time blocks for speaking events Friday afternoon and evening and debate events on Saturday.
Saturday, Jan. 26, Stephen and Ryan held a judge responsibility briefing.
Hosting the debate tournament was a huge undertaking that hadn't occurred at Carson High for years. Stephen and Ryan were eager to undertake it as they felt they could learn valuable lessons in leadership, responsibility, and project management, and all the skills required to succeed in the working world.
They thought it would be exciting for fellow students to be exposed to advocates from different schools being pitted against each other while debating subjects that make a difference in our lives today.
To succeed they needed the help of 97 volunteer judges which included butchers, bakers and candlestick makers as well as Carson High School teachers Patrick Mobley, Sarah Adler and Cheryl Macy. Attendees included Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, Carson City Supervisor Shelly Aldean and Legislative Council Bureau Director Lorne Malkewich.
Can you believe over 12 high schools in Northern Nevada agreed to participate in this tournament! Elko High School did not make it due to bad weather. High school athletic contests are the norm, but how often do you see, hear or read anything about high school academic contests?
It is true that service clubs, such as Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis, American Legion, Optimists, and others do offer speech contests for students. Winners may receive scholarships, but the contests are school specific, not interscholastic.
Friday Winners
Novice Poetry and Prose
1st Samantha Danner: Fernley
2nd, Tori Hartswick: Fernley
3rd, Megan Little: Spring Creek
Senior Poetry and Prose
1st Alysha Webster: Fernley
2nd Jill Shufelt: Carson
3rd Danielle Wilson: Fernley
Novice Humorous Interp
1st Austin Crown, McQueen
2nd Merrill Asp: Carson
3rd Kaitlyn Schwartz-Spanish Springs
Senior Humorous Interpretation
1st Micaela Iveson: Reno High
2nd Ken Bridwell: Fernley
3rd Clara Ritger: Douglas
Novice Impromptu
1st Drew Shafer: Fernley
2nd Travis Moore: Douglas
3rd Ryan Polka: Galena
Senior Impromptu
1st Kelsey Kuhnmuench: Bishop Manogue
2nd Kevin Kendrick: Douglas
3rd Michael Egan: Bishop Manogue
Novice Foreign Extemperaneus
1st Evan Kleiner: Douglas
2nd Will Dornbrook: Douglas
3rd Alec Coleman: Reno High
Senior Foreign Extemperaneus
1st J.R. Stevens: Douglas
2nd Kevin Price: Bishop Manogue
3rd Robert Parker: Churchill County
Novice Original Oratory
1st Steven Strozza: Spanish Springs
2nd Crystal Ji: Mcqueen
3rd Nicole Romaneschi: Carson Valley Middle School
Senior Original Oratory
1st Kevin Bassney: Galena
2nd Alex Wilson: Reno
3rd Pricilla Minogue: Bishop Manogue
Saturday Debates
Novice Lincoln Douglas:
1st Kevin Kendrick: Douglas
2nd Brennan McNammara: Bishop Manogue
Senior Lincoln Douglas:
1st Robert Parker: Fallon
2nd Sterling Hall: Reno High
Novice Public Forum Debate:
1st Menta and Belcourt: Damonte
2nd Lou and Viola: Bishop Manogue
Senior Public Forum Debate
1st Badwick and Sanders: Galena
2nd Ferrari and Broughton: Reno High School
Novice Policy:
1st Nims and Rose: Reno High School
2nd Murphy and Blakely: Fernley
Senior Policy:
1st Stevens and Ritger
2nd Aguilar and Dale (Douglas closeout)