December is coming up!

Winter (Dec. and Jan.) is the team's crunch time. See what's "goin' down" in the next two months. Oh, yeah, and have a Merry Christmas too! :)

villiger ultimate report

Brennan Morris is Extemporaneous Speaking Champion for Villiger 2008!
Finalist in Oratory.
On the way back to R-MA. Will be back at midnight for the file unload.

villiger penultimate report

Val and Will dropped Octos on a 2-1 ballot to the team who just won. Very good.
Ryan broke to Quarters (first time at a national tournament).
John broke past Quarters into Semis in Declamation (improved over last year).
And Brennan has DOUBLE BROKE into Finals in Extemp and Oratory!
Will keep you posted on Awards.
~ba

villiger - report in progress

It's Sunday morning and I'm waiting in the bus as students carry in extemp tubs into the prep room.

Big news is that we broke virtually everyone into outround eliminations. Brennan double-broke in extemp and oratory into qtrs; Will and Val into octos; John Holsinger in Dec and Ryan in OI both into qtrs.

Leaving campus on Friday at two, our bus driver took us across Pennsylvania fields growing whiter and whiter... dreaming of a White Thanksgiving. Arriving at the hotel at 7 in the evening, we linked up with Mr Pratt, president of the Booster Society, and Lauren Burt, our assistant coach. With Lauren taking the kids to dinner, Mr Pratt drove Da Czar to the tournament hotel for registration and we sat over dinner at Malgianno's, looking over the schematics and finding out just where the kids were going to be tomorrow. This Holiday Inn is the nicest and cheapest we've stayed in Phillie. Definitely a must for next year.

On Saturday, getting up bright and early (0600), Da Czar warmed up the bus while the students had breakfast before we headed to the tournament for the extemp file unload and Da Czar heading to the hour-long General Assembly as they shifted rooms and competitors. Villiger is a great tournament; but reminds you just how far the internet has shifted the tournament paradigm. Yale, Princeton, and UPenn use a web-based tournament application that posts online; so no massive changes of competitors from one room to the other.

With only moderate room difficulties, the students proceded through the day without much mishap. Mr Pratt and Da Czar were able to scope out nearby Starbucks and checked out Larry's Steak House for Sunday's team dinner.

Da Czar was also able to connect with Rebecca Jackson-Spellacey, former debate captain ('03) and her new husband over coffee.

Enjoying a delightful traditional team dinner at IHOP with Sparkle, our waitress, John enjoyed the largest hot cocoa ever, helped by Ryan.

NFL Degree Standings, November Report

We finally got our account up and running with NFL and have put in points from this year and almost done in cleaning up points from last year. For every round of competition or public speaking, students gain a certain number of NFL points. For example, a win in debate is worth 6 points, a loss 3. For extemp and oratory, a first in a round is 6 points, a second 5, a third 4, and so on. For Interp events, a first is fourth 5 and so on; for Impromptu, 4.

Based on those points, students gain national degrees. At the Fall Awards Banquet, we award all students their NFL insignia (a pin going on the left lapel) All points are cumulative. The degrees are:

(Key) Membership... 25 points
(Emerald) Degree of Honor. . . 75 points
(Sapphire) Degree of Excellence. . . 150 points
(Ruby) Degree of Distinction. . . 250 points
(Double Ruby) Degree of Special Distinction. . . 500 points
(Triple Ruby) Degree of Superior Distinction. . . 750 points
(Quadruple Ruby) Degree of Outstanding Distinction.. . . 1000 points
(Quintuple Ruby) Degree of Premier Distinction.. . 1500 points

Each category (speech, debate, congress) is capped at 750 NFL points. A student is capped at 1500 NFL points... all points beyond that Cap must be earned at NFL Nationals or NFL National Qualifiers.

For the team, a student on Varsity must gain a Ruby, or next level of Ruby, by the end of the season. We expect novices to gain a Ruby and have some ground for their Double by the end of the year. For returners, we expect gaining another Ruby.

Students will have a picture and bio on the website once they:
1) Gain a Double Ruby
2) Break at least at three national tournaments
3) Gain a slot, or have gained a slot, to Nationals (either CFL or NFL)

Seniors who end the year in Good Standing are Eligible for the Hall of Fame if:
1) They have gained at least a Quadruple Ruby
2) They have broken at least at five national tournaments
3) They have a gained qualification for NFL or CFL Nationals
Current Hall of Fame members will vote on a student's inclusion into the Hall of Fame, based on the student's resume. Successful Hall of Fame Applicants will have a picture plaque hung in the hallway, will have an identical plaque for their parents, and will be ranked on the website. Additionally, Hall of Fame Alumni will have the option to become Associate Coaches for the Team and come back to the Awards Banquet to present.

Current NFL Degrees and Rankings:

Key
Matt Walsh (40) -- NEW
Andre Butler (61) -- NEW

Emerald
Ryan Black (102) -- NEW
John Morgan Christoph (115) -- NEW

Sapphire
Paul Smith (173) -- NEW

Ruby
David McAteer (373)
Marianne Nell (382)
Kaleb Gerber (400)
Stephen Maddock (417) -- advancing from a Sapphire

Double Ruby
John Holsinger (534) -- advancing from a Ruby

Triple Ruby
Evan Pionkowski (753) -- advancing from a Double
Will Dungan (852) -- advancing from a Double
Valerie Pratt (893) -- advancing from a Double

Quintuple Ruby
Brennan Morris (1,891)

R-MA currently retains its position as the Top-Ranked school in Virginia