Senior project proved a great success

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)