Forensics competes in Topeka

Elizabeth Alexander, Features Editor

Not even halfway through the second semester, the Manhattan High School forensics team continues to have multiple students place in several events.

Despite this year’s team being composed of primarily novices, the team continues to make their impression within final rounds.

This past weekend, the forensics team attended the Glenn E. Burnett forensics tournament at Topeka High School. Within the final rounds of six events, a total of 12 students placed. In international extemporaneous, freshman Will Bannister placed fifth. In Junior Varsity domestic extemporaneous, junior Maiesha Hossain placed second and freshman Trinity Brockman placed third.

For Junior Varsity events, in humorous interpretation, junior Martina Hernandez placed second. In J.V. international extemporaneous, freshman Robert Zhang placed fourth, junior Nathan Paukstelis placed fifth, and freshman Anna Poggi-Corradini placed sixth. In J.V. Original Interpretation of Literature, freshman Victoria Arnold placed second, Ivy Aluetti placed third, and sophomore Blaise Hayden placed fifth. Finally, in novice congress, freshman Mbofho Ndou placed first.

When it comes to the forensics team, many find themselves incredibly invested and are happy to put forth their personal interests and passions into their pieces.

“I think [forensics is] really good for learning how to public speak and being comfortable around other people,” Hernandez said. “We’re like a big family.”

While forensics is an incredibly social class that involves travelling and competing with other schools, lots of work and research needs to be put forth. Students in the class often divide the work and collaborate in order to get things done faster and more efficiently. This is the case usually with congress, an event that involves students coming together to discuss bills that the U.S. Congress will soon be going over and forming their own education opinions on it.

“[The bill on] homeless was one bill I stood up for,” Ndou said. “I feel like we all deserve the right to life and liberty. The American dream.”

Apart from congress, the actual forensics tournament is where people bring out their most creative sides. Some like to create humorous pieces in hopes of putting smiles on people’s faces, others find pride in portraying dramatic characters with enticing plots, and some find it important to educate their peers with informative speeches about what’s going on in the world. However, the overall consensus is that most enjoy being able to improve their speech skills.

“I would recommend the class because public speaking is very important,” Ndou said. “I feel like to get better at public speaking, this is the class to take.”