It’s been an exciting speech and debate season for YSA. The qualifiers, opens, and regional invitationals are now over. The YSAers debated hard, presented well, and enjoyed a splendid series of rigorous tournaments. For some of us, the 2011 season is over and we’ve started to mull over ideas for the next; for others, we’ve got one final lap to go.
But before we move on, let’s pick up where we left off last…
TEXAS CAPITAL QUALIFIER (THSC Texas State Championship)
This tournament was held March 24-26 at Great Hills Baptist Church in Austin, Texas, and, much like the 2010 Regionals in Austin last year, carried a distinct flavor and atmosphere that made it overall one of our favorite tournaments this season. Here are the results for YSA:
- 1st Place Individual Events Sweepstakes: Madelaine Clay
- 1st Place Duo Interpretation: Ben Amason/Owen Stroud
- 1st Place Illustrated Oratory: Madelaine Clay
- 3rd Place Humorous Interpretation: Ben Amason
- 4th Place Impromptu Speaking: Owen Stroud
- 5th Place Dramatic Interpretation: Madelaine Clay
- 5th Place Persuasive Speaking: Owen Stroud
- 6th Place Humorous Interpretation: Owen Stroud
- 6th Place Individual Events Sweepstakes: Owen Stroud
- 7th Place Persuasive Speaking: Madelaine Clay
- Dramatic Interpretation Semifinalists: Kayley Ryan, Eliza Adams
- Illustrated Oratory Semifinalist: Seth Luster
- Original Oratory Semifinalists: Kayley Ryan, Liesl Lawrence, Ellen Stroud, Darah Welch
- Persuasive Speaking Semifinalist: Alison Louis
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BIG COUNTRY QUALIFIER (Abilene, Texas)
- 2nd Place Apologetics: Liesl Lawrence
- 2nd Place Persuasive Speaking: Alison Louis
- 6th Place Dramatic Interpretation: Eliza Adams
- 6th Place Original Oratory: Ben Amason
- 14th Place Team Policy Debate: Luke Adams/Darah Welch
- Original Oratory semifinalists: Eliza Adams, Darah Welch
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And finally, we had the final Region 4 tournament, the Invitational. This tournament, held in Arlington, TX on April 28-30, determined who qualifies to the 2011 NCFCA National Championship in Wenham, MA:
The 2011 Region IV Invitational (“Regionals”)
YSAers qualified to the 2011 Regionals in 24 speeches altogether. Two Team Policy debate teams (Adams/Welch and Adams/Amason) also qualified and attended.
- 1st place Illustrated Oratory: Madelaine Clay (PQ)
- 1st Place Persuasive Speaking: Owen Stroud (Q)
- 4th Place Apologetics: Owen Stroud (Q)
- 4th Place Persuasive Speaking: Alison Louis (Q)
- 5th Place Original Oratory: Ben Amason (Q)
- 5th Place Persuasive Speaking: Madelaine Clay (PQ)
- 13th Place Team Policy Speaker: Luke Adams
- 14th Place Team Policy Debate: Luke Adams/Darah Welch
- Humorous Interpretation Semifinalists: Ben Amason (Q), Owen Stroud (Q)
- Original Oratory Semifinalists: Owen Stroud (Q), Darah Welch (Q)
Five YSA students have earned a Q (Qualified) next to their names!
And now for the next and final stop…
Gordon College in Wenham, MA
Location of the 2011 NCFCA National Championship
The results? Well, you’ll have to check back after June 18, 2011, either to this website or ncfca.org, where the results will be posted. Till then, stay tuned!
It’s been an amazing (and record-breaking!) season for the Young Speakers of Austin club. For now, we’re looking forward to the final lap with much anticipation and excitement!
