Forensic Team Travels to Colby (03-11-10)
March 12, 2010
The Northern Valley Forensic team ventured to Colby for the “Surfin’ at the Oasis” tournament. This was our first weekday meet we have had this year. It was kind of different leaving while the sun was up …… and coming home after it had already gotten dark. Kind of a switch from what we are used to. J
With the kids leaving from school …. they have to go to all of the classes they are going to miss and request the teachers sign off in their planners. This ensures that the faculty knows they are at an activity and not just absent. Bryan Shearer drove the activity bus for us and Maggie Burger went along to judge. I am continuing to loosen my belt from the wonderful supply of cookies Irma and Launa provide for each trip. Thank you to ALL of you for your time, your gifts, and to those parents that journeyed down to cheer on the kids.
Those students attending the meet were: Samuel Field, Morgan Black, Haley Graham, Jordan Herman, Alex Tharman, Jon Compton, Sophia Garcia, Gunnar Hays, Bryant Tharman, Matt Dole, Daniel Field, Tyson Callaway, Christina Anderson, and Zac Vincent.
The tournament started at 2:00 PM. When schools host these events in the afternoon, they only have two preliminary rounds ……. which is much more of a challenge. Inevitably, students have one round in which something does not go quite right (i.e.. brain lapse, interruption, tongue twisted, etc). When there are three rounds, you are able to balance that out with two good ones …. In a two round prelim, the odds are against you.
On this particular day, the students did not have that problem; they had two great rounds. There were four of the students that finished just under the cut off and did not make the finals and others that were further down the line, but if it were not for those two great rounds, we would not have scored as well as we did as a team. Those making it to the finals and their placings were: Zac – Oration (3rd place) and Gunnar – Extemporaneous (2nd place).
There were eighteen schools that attended this meet with a total of 206 entries. Northern Valley finished with a strong fourth place. WAY TO GO TEAM!!!!!
Okay …. you may be thinking that is the end of the story …. but wait ….. there’s more. J Colby has had an additional event four of the last five years known as the Laughing Hyena Open Mic Competition. This is a three minute (per person) stand up comedy routine that is conducted during the tabulation of the final rounds. For some reason, they did not hold this last year.
Jordan Herman has competed in this event his Freshman, Sophomore, and this year (Senior). By popular student body vote (cheering) he has now won all three times he has competed. OUTSTANDING!!!!!! I know there is no award for this competition, but he takes home the knowledge of his accomplishments and the cheers of his most supportive fans, the Forensic team and his beloved family.
Our next competitions will be in Smith Center on Thursday, March 25th, then Ellis on Saturday, March 27th, and finally League in Palco on Wednesday, April 7th. I hope you are able to make it out to see these young men and women in action. Our annual Dinner and a Show is scheduled for April 19th ….. mark your calendars. And remember ….. If you think your life has drama …. then you know what we are talking about.
