11 Forensics students place top 6 in events

McKayla Clarksnodgrass, Photo Editor

The Manhattan High Forensics team had 11 students place within the top six in their events, with three students newly State qualified at the Blue Valley North Forensic Invitational.

Junior Abrar Nasser competed in the Lincoln Douglas Debate. Freshman Paige Shurtz competed in Original Oratory and Informative Speaking. Shurtz placed fifth in Original Oratory.

“It was good,” Shurtz said, “I broke into finals for the first time.”

Junior Megan Long placed third in Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking and Original Oratory. Junior Kris Long competed in Program of Oral Interpretation and Impromptu Speaking, placing fifth in Program of Oral Interpretation. Junior Eszter Chikan placed first in Original Oratory, receiving a state qualification.

Junior Sam DeLong placed first and received State qualifications in Impromptu Speaking, Program of Oral Interpretation, and International Extemporaneous Speaking.

The tournament had the comments of the judges published after the rounds, which is not usual for the tournaments.

“I got to kind of adjust my performance throughout the day and try to adapt to what judges were telling me,” DeLong said. “I felt like that, I don’t know, made me improve too.”

Freshman Zach O’haver competed in Impromptu Speaking and Original Oratory, placing sixth in Original Oratory. Freshman Jack McCornack competed in Lincoln Douglas Debate. Freshman Ryan Thein competed in Informative Speaking and Impromptu Speaking, placing sixth in Impromptu Speaking. Junior Ryan Ward placed fourth in Humorous Interpretation, fourth in Impromptu Speaking and fifth in Poetry. Freshman Kate Ward placed fourth in Poetry and placed sixth and received a State qualification in Program of Oral Interpretation.

Sophomore Elizabeth Bean competed in Dramatic Interpretation and Impromptu Speaking. Bean placed third in Dramatic Interpretation. 

“It was a good experience definitely, and I’m looking forward to future tournaments as well,” Bean said.

Freshman Jordyn West competed in Impromptu Speaking and Informative Speaking. Junior Wyatt Underwood competed in Lincoln Douglas Debate. Freshman Eli Kunz participated in Humorous Interpretation, Impromptu Speaking and Prose. Sophomore Greyson Hickel competed in Impromptu Speaking. Junior Olivia Fateley competed in Original Oratory and Impromptu Speaking.

Freshman Makayla Anhorn competed in Original Oratory. Sophomore Alayna Clark competed in Original Oratory. Freshman Malinda Richardson competed in Original Oratory. Sophomore Ethan Martinson competed in Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking and Impromptu Speaking. 

Freshman Anvesha Sharda placed fourth in Original Oratory. This was Sharda’s first tournament of the season after competing in debate last semester.

“I have never been to a forensics tournament so I didn’t really know what to expect,” Sharda said. “I just kind of had experience with debate tournaments and this is very different.”

Forensics will meet again next weekend at the Washburn Rural Invitational.