A Message from the Czar
Every year, every month, coaching gets better. This month, we have begun developing the self-governance of the Franklin-Grady Literary and Debating Society. These officers, unlike in other honor societies, have responsibilities and work to decentralize the grunt work of coaching to allow me to do what I do best: coach. Each Monday meeting, chaired by the President of the FGLDS proceeds through the agenda and deals with all business before the body. Students are learning, through this process, parliamentary procedure and how to deal with others in a business meeting. I have been very pleased with the results. More, I have been very pleased with the results of our season. Blanking out our competition at numerous tournaments, RMA Speech and Debate is having its best year yet. One note of importance: a very important WACFL Tournament will be on Saturday, November 20th – one day after break lets the students out. I ask that parents delay travel plans for students until Sunday, November 21st. We will ensure that students will get to the airport or the train station. This tournament will be a very important one to ensure our continued dominance of the WACFL League.
Every year, every month, coaching gets better. This month, we have begun developing the self-governance of the Franklin-Grady Literary and Debating Society. These officers, unlike in other honor societies, have responsibilities and work to decentralize the grunt work of coaching to allow me to do what I do best: coach. Each Monday meeting, chaired by the President of the FGLDS proceeds through the agenda and deals with all business before the body. Students are learning, through this process, parliamentary procedure and how to deal with others in a business meeting. I have been very pleased with the results. More, I have been very pleased with the results of our season. Blanking out our competition at numerous tournaments, RMA Speech and Debate is having its best year yet. One note of importance: a very important WACFL Tournament will be on Saturday, November 20th – one day after break lets the students out. I ask that parents delay travel plans for students until Sunday, November 21st. We will ensure that students will get to the airport or the train station. This tournament will be a very important one to ensure our continued dominance of the WACFL League.
NoVaFL 1 (DC)
On Wednesday October 13, the Randolph-Macon Academy Speech and Debate Team traveled to Fredericksburg to take part in the first tournament of Northern Virginia Forensic League. Competing out of the 20 school’s and 192 competitors, taking home an astonishing 18 medals.
virtual laundry list of awards, medals, and honorable mention seemed to weigh down the Debate-Mobile Bus on the victorious ride back to campus. Randolph-Macon swept this local tournament taking:
1st in Impromptu: James Taafel
1st in Humorous Interpretation: David Tuck
1st in Domestic Extemp: Alyssa King
Tied for 2nd in Domestic Extemp: S.R. Hilliard and Chris Cole
1st in Foreign Extemp: Thomas Cox
2nd in Foreign Extemp: James Taafel
3rd in Foreign Extemp: Tabi Allen
Tied for 1st in Dramatic Interpretation: Jason W hetzel
1st in Duo Interpretation: Nemecek/Trimm and Tuck/O rlova
1st in Original Oratory: Sean Dunaway
2nd in Original Oratory: S.R. Hilliard
2nd in Declamation: Tabi Allen
Tied for 2nd in Declamation: Tea Flores-Kestner
Tied for 1st in Prose: Chris Olsen
1st in Poetry: Yuliya Orlova
2nd in Poetry: Sean Dunaway
Tied for 5th in Poetry: Chris Olsen
2nd in Story Telling: Justin Shipp
Special congratulation must be given to those who through an incredible amount of hard work and practice over a very short amount of time, many from the Randolph-Macon team have for the first time taken a first place (or championship) medal. Kicking off what is sure to be another triumphant season for the R-MA speech and debate team with a terrific start. One of these first place medals went to 11th grader Chris Olson, who when asked about what it felt like to receive his first first place medal said, "Umm… (rubs chin while thinking), I was very shocked to have won, but I felt very good about it afterwards." Another was that of Courtney Nemecek a 10th grader who took first in Duo after sharpening her skills at the Metropolis Forensics Institute. When asked the same question she responded, "It felt like I had accomplished something, but I know if I keep working I can still do better."
In the end, when all points are tallied up from every member of a school, it is a team effort to achieve the greatest award of the night: Grand Sweepstakes. Lincoln-Douglas Debate team Caption Richard Marsh joked, "Though I didn’t compete in this NoVaFL, other tournaments have truly exemplified Mr. Gregg’s coaching skills. This one probably also showcased his true character."
Thanks to Christine Kestner and Deborah Best for judging.
Special recognition must be given to:
MVP: Yuliya Orlova and David Tuck
Trouper: Tabi Allen
Degrees Added:
Tabi Allen, advancing to Triple Ruby
David Tuck, advancing to Triple Ruby
Courtney Nemecek, advancing to Ruby
Louis Armstrong, advancing to Key Membership
David Cogswell, advancing to Key Membership
Tabi Allen, advancing to Triple Ruby
David Tuck, advancing to Triple Ruby
Courtney Nemecek, advancing to Ruby
Louis Armstrong, advancing to Key Membership
David Cogswell, advancing to Key Membership
JMU
Friday and Saturday October 15th and 16th the Randolph-Macon Speech and Debate team, this time consisting of only debate, traveled to the campus of James Madison University to compete in the JMU Lincoln-Douglas Debate High School Tournament. Out of the (number of schools) school and (number of competitors) competitors also taking part, RMA came out with numerous awards, making it to finals in novice, junior varsity, and varsity level debate. Overall taking (number of awards) plaques back to further decorate the honored walls of first floor Crow Hall.
The RMA team dominated this national tournament, ending up with multitudes of awards.
Novice Speaker Awards:
1st Place: Spencer Dorsey
2nd Place: Tabitha Allen
3rd Place: S.R. Hilliard
5th Place: Rachel Jackson
Junior Varsity Speaker Awards:
1st Place: Harry Hixon
2nd Place: Sean Dunaway
Varsity Speaker Awards:
2nd Place: Richard Marsh
Novice Placement:
Tied for 1st Place: Tabitha Allen and Spencer Dorsey
Semi Finalist: S.R. Hilliard
Junior Varsity Placement:
Tied for 1st Place: Harry Hixon and Sean Dunaway
Varsity Placement:
2nd Place: Richard Marsh
Breaking to semi final rounds where that of Tabitha Allen, S.R. Hilliard, and Spencer Dorsey in novice. In junior varsity were Sean Dunaway and Harry Hixon. And in varsity was Richard Marsh. In an unprecedented turn of events RMA was paired with their own teammates for final rounds in both novice and junior varsity, both of these rounds ending in tie. The novice final round between Spencer Dorsey and Tabitha Allen, junior varsity was Harry Hixon and Sean Dunaway. When asked what it felt like to go up against a member of his own team only to have it end in a tie Hixon said, "It was nice to share a victory that we both earned." Dunaway, when asked that same question, was heard mumbling as he grabbed his head while looking down to think, "It was okay… I guess." Certainly it was this intense level of incredible excitement that was shared by the whole RMA team as they celebrated their victory over breakfast foods in the P.M. and old fashioned milkshakes at the International House of Pancakes that night.
Thanks to Tim Lundy, Tanya Mulvey, and Rebecca Jackson for judging.
Special recognition for this tournament goes to:
MVP: Tabi Allen, Spencer Dorsey, Sean Dunaway, Harry Hixon
Trouper: Christo Keshishian
Degrees Added:
Sean Dunaway, advancing to Quad Ruby
SR Hilliard, advancing to Triple Ruby
Harry Hixon, advancing to Double Ruby
Kevin Frei, advancing to Emerald
Alexandra Kysar, advancing to Emerald
Sean Dunaway, advancing to Quad Ruby
SR Hilliard, advancing to Triple Ruby
Harry Hixon, advancing to Double Ruby
Kevin Frei, advancing to Emerald
Alexandra Kysar, advancing to Emerald
WACFL LD 1
On Saturday October 23, 2004 the Randolph-Macon Speech and Debate team, again this time made only of the debating half, made it’s way up to the Massaponax High School for Washington-Arlington Catholic Forensic League I Lincoln-Douglas (WACFL I LD) datable tournament. It was here that the R-MA team face (number or schools) schools with their (number of competitors) competitors, but still taking home 9 awards, placing among the top winners for each division.
Junior Varsity Speaker Awards:
1st Place: Yuliya Orlova
3rd Place: Harry Hixon
Junior Varsity Placements:
1st Place: Yuliya Orlova (4-0)
2nd Place: Harry Hixon (4-0)
3rd Place: Spencer Dorsey (4-0)
4th Place: S.R. Hilliard (4-0)
5th Place: Sean Dunaway (4-0)
6th Place: Tabitha Allen (3-1)
Varsity Placements:
2nd Place: Bo Snitchler (4-0)
Setting a school and league record, the Randolph-Macon Academy team completely swept Junior Varsity. Making this achievement all the more remarkable is that less then a week earlier, at the JMU LD tournament, over half these R-MA finalist had been in the novice division. In only the second exclusive debate tournament of the year, these newcomers are learning the Lincoln-Douglas debating style diligently. Bo Snitchler, LD underboss, says, "The rate at which these guys, who traditionally are IEer’s, are learning debate is incredible." It is this type of cross training, moving from script reading to making original coherent arguments, that is a staple for the R-MA team.
On Saturday October 23, 2004 the Randolph-Macon Speech and Debate team, again this time made only of the debating half, made it’s way up to the Massaponax High School for Washington-Arlington Catholic Forensic League I Lincoln-Douglas (WACFL I LD) datable tournament. It was here that the R-MA team face (number or schools) schools with their (number of competitors) competitors, but still taking home 9 awards, placing among the top winners for each division.
Junior Varsity Speaker Awards:
1st Place: Yuliya Orlova
3rd Place: Harry Hixon
Junior Varsity Placements:
1st Place: Yuliya Orlova (4-0)
2nd Place: Harry Hixon (4-0)
3rd Place: Spencer Dorsey (4-0)
4th Place: S.R. Hilliard (4-0)
5th Place: Sean Dunaway (4-0)
6th Place: Tabitha Allen (3-1)
Varsity Placements:
2nd Place: Bo Snitchler (4-0)
Setting a school and league record, the Randolph-Macon Academy team completely swept Junior Varsity. Making this achievement all the more remarkable is that less then a week earlier, at the JMU LD tournament, over half these R-MA finalist had been in the novice division. In only the second exclusive debate tournament of the year, these newcomers are learning the Lincoln-Douglas debating style diligently. Bo Snitchler, LD underboss, says, "The rate at which these guys, who traditionally are IEer’s, are learning debate is incredible." It is this type of cross training, moving from script reading to making original coherent arguments, that is a staple for the R-MA team.
S.R. Hilliard discusses the hardship of this kind of cross training, saying, "The difference between these events are a world apart. Only after having done both can you truly appreciate the work put into it… It’s like spending your whole life learning to play Magic the Gathering, then trading in your whole deck for a handful of Yu-Gi-Oh cards." At which time S.R. promptly proceeded to note that the "hotness level" of the room had substantially increased immediately following his arrival, a fact that was firmly agreed upon by his surrounding admirers and teammates after a prompt and conclusive discussion of this topic.
Thanks to Alumni Rebecca Jackson and Alex Airhart and retired coaches Adelle and Wade Gunn for judging.
WACFL 1 - Speech
On October 30, 2004 the Randolph-Macon Speech and Debate team, this time mirroring the last two tournaments and inviting the IEer’s only, traveled to Bethesda, Maryland at Walt Whitman High School to compete in the Washington-Arlington Catholic Forensic Individual Event Tournament I (WACFL IE I). Of the 19 with their 94 competitors, the R-MA team took away 9 awards.
Declamation:
1st Place: Tabitha Allen
Oral Interp.
1st Place: David Tuck
Extemp
1st Place: James Taafel
3rd Place: S.R. Hilliard
4th Place: Tabitha Allen
Dramatic Performance
1st Place: Yuliya Orlova
2nd Place: David Tuck
4th Place: Justin Shipp
Impromptu
1st Place: James Taafel
Original Oratory
4th Place: S.R. Hilliard
On October 30, 2004 the Randolph-Macon Speech and Debate team, this time mirroring the last two tournaments and inviting the IEer’s only, traveled to Bethesda, Maryland at Walt Whitman High School to compete in the Washington-Arlington Catholic Forensic Individual Event Tournament I (WACFL IE I). Of the 19 with their 94 competitors, the R-MA team took away 9 awards.
Declamation:
1st Place: Tabitha Allen
Oral Interp.
1st Place: David Tuck
Extemp
1st Place: James Taafel
3rd Place: S.R. Hilliard
4th Place: Tabitha Allen
Dramatic Performance
1st Place: Yuliya Orlova
2nd Place: David Tuck
4th Place: Justin Shipp
Impromptu
1st Place: James Taafel
Original Oratory
4th Place: S.R. Hilliard
Unlike the last two tournaments this was speech events only, giving the straight IEer’s a much needed work out after having not competed in weeks. David Tuck, IE captain, said, "Even without tournaments we always keep sharp with continuos practice, and I think it really showed." This was obviously true being that R-MA took home five first places medals out of the six events they had participated in.
Similar to the Bizzaro world, this tournament seemed to be the exact opposite of the previous week being that being that debaters were being cross trained in speech events. Harry Hixon, your average speed talking LDer, competed with his first declamation ever. When asked about how it felt after coming out of his declamation room Hixon said, "If ‘declamation’ is rooted in the Latin word for ‘yelling for ten minutes,’ then I did great!"
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