This is going to be a short posting… We are off to Georgia Tech!  If you would like to see the schedule, click here. If you would like directions, they can be found here. Additionally, click and you will find the parent permission form. Good luck to all!  Oh, and we are all meeting at THE COLLEGE OF COMPUTING!

The results are in, although they are unofficial until the National Forensic League completes its audit:

Policy Debate:

Qualifiers- Michael Barlow and Holden Choi

2^nd alternates- Samantha Chiang and Ben Dean

Public Forum Debate:

Qualifiers- Ashley Brown and Tyler Olson

Qualifiers- JP Patterson and Greyson Blake

Lincoln-Douglas Debate:

Qualifier- Stephanie Styles

Qualifier- Lucas Bailey

1^st alternate- Noah Johnson

International Extemporaneous Speaking:

Qualifier- Isabelle Taft

Qualifier- Emily Atkinson

1^st alternate- Dylan Coyle

2^nd alternate- Mallory Akard

United States Extemporaneous Speaking:

Qualifier- Leith Meador

Qualifier- James Holland

1^st alternate- Cole Bagley

Original Oratory:

2^nd alternate- Laura King

Dramatic Interpretation:

Qualifier- Taylor Walker

2^nd alternate- Patrick Heflin

Duo Interpretation:

Qualifiers- Quameeha Grandoit and Lukas Olson

1^st alternates- Taylor Walker and Laura King

Overall, the team won the Tournament Sweepstakes plaque and the Overall Sweepstakes trophy.

Freddie Mercury perfmoming "We Are The Champions"

The Speech and Debate Team, also known as “The Jesters” competed at the Georgia Forensic Coaches Association State Championships this past weekend at Evans HS.  This tournament is for championships in all speech and debate events EXCEPT Varsity Policy Debate (which Grady won two weeks ago!).  Here are the results:

Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Co-Champions- Rachel Citrin and Tatiana Johnson

Varsity Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Champion- Lucas Bailey; Semi-finalist- Noah Johnson

Public Forum Debate: Runners-up- Tyler Olson and Ashley Brown

Prose/Poetry: Third Place- Jahra Gholston

Duo Interpretation: Second Place- Taylor Walker/Laura King; Third Place- Quameeha Grandiot/Lukas Olson; Fifth Place- Marius Jackson/Jahra Gholston

Original Oratory: Sixth Place- Laura King

Dramatic Interpretation: Champion- Taylor Walker

Impromptu Speaking: Champion- Micah Plott; Second Place- Daniel Gilstrap; Fourth Place- James Holland; Fifth Place- Leith Meador

Extemporaneous Speaking: Champion- Leith Meador; Second Place- Isabelle Taft; Fourth Place- Emily Atkinson; Fifth Place- Cole Bagley

JV Policy Debate: Octofinalists- Holden Choi/Ben Dean

Overall, Grady HS won the State Speech and Debate Championship!!

Additionally, the following students have qualified for the Grand National Speech and Debate Tournament on Memorial Day weekend in Omaha, Nebraska:

Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Stephanie Styles, Lucas Bailey and Noah Johnson

Dramatic Performance: Taylor Walker

Original Oratory: Willamae Boling

Duo Interpretation: Quameeha Grandoit/Lukas Olson and Marius Jackson/Jahra Gholston

Extemporaneous Speaking: Leith Meador, Isabelle Taft, James Holland and Cole Bagley

Declamation: Daniel Gilstrap

Policy Debate: Michael Barlow/Holden Choi

Prose/Poetry: Sarah Dillard

Public Forum Debate: Tyler Olson/Ashley Brown

Our next tournament is the NFL National Qualifier at Georgia Tech next Friday and Saturday.  Thanks to everyone for their continued support!

The Jesters are off to Evans HS for the Georgia Forensic Coaches Association State Speech and Debate Tournament.  This is the State Tournament for all events other than varsity policy debate.  48 students from Grady HS will compete at Evans HS in Evans, Georgia (in the Augusta area).  JV policy debaters and Student Congress entries will leave from Grady on Friday, February 19 and stay overnight.  All others will leave VERY early on Saturday.  All the information can be found by clicking here. If you would like more information on the tournament schedule, it can be found here. GOOD LUCK, JESTERS!

Hey everyone, the practice at Agnes Scott is cancelled due to the really bad weather and the roads being a mess this morning.  Safety is most important for all of our Speech and Debate team, so please be careful today and with the rest of your weekend. Contact Mr. Herrera is you have questions or concerns.

[P.S. : Since our two BIGGEST tournaments of the year start the following weekend, please try to practice while at home over the break. If you want to win and are serious about these tournaments, find the time to practice.]