2016 Middle School Forensics Champs Crowned!

Congratulations to State Champion Jay M Robinson and the individual State Champs in our six event categories!

Those are: Vinitha Sunkara of Jay M Robinson for Humorous Interpretation; Julia Dyer of New Century International for Dramatic Interpretation; Rashad Rahman of 71st Classical for Extemporaneous Speaking; Naomi Ovrutski of Jay M Robinson for Original Oratory; Rakshita Kothapalli and Meghna Iyer of Jay M Robinson for Duo Interpretation; and Devin Desai and Luke Draygo of Jay M Robinson for Public Forum Debate.

On Saturday, April 30, the 2016 Middle School Forensics State Final was held at Rogers-Herr Middle School in Durham. In the Interpretation categories, students performed memorized literary works, and in Original Oratory students presented their own original persuasive speeches. Students participating in Extemporaneous Speaking came prepared to speak on three topics—US Politics, Africa and the Middle East, and the US Economy—but did not know what questions they would answer before drawing them before the beginning of the round. They then had 30 minutes to prepare a persuasive speech. And in Public Forum Debate, teams argued for or against pulling US troops from Okinawa.

Below are the top six ranking students in each category and the top six ranking schools:

Humorous Interpretation

6- Arianna Herring, 71st Classical Middle School, Fayetteville

5- Antonio Santiago, New Century International Middle School, Fayetteville

4- Bomani Mwamba, New Century International

3- Joy Bao-Dai, Jay M Robinson Middle School, Charlotte

2- Rachel Curtis, Jay M Robinson

State Champion- Vinitha Sunkara, Jay M Robinson

Dramatic Interpretation

6-Colby Blackwell, Pine Forest Middle School, Fayetteville

5- Ramaya Wike, Gray’s Creek Middle School, Hope Mills

4- Arianna Darden, Mac Williams Middle School, Fayetteville

3- Rebecca McCartney, 71st Classical

2- Reagan Amos, Meadowview Magnet Middle School, Mt. Airy

State Champion- Julia Dyer, New Century International

Extemporaneous Speaking

6- Peyton Warren, Gray’s Creek

5- Nadia Hussein, JN Fries Magnet School, Concord

4- Jackson Lewer, Jay M Robinson

3- Aditya Senthil, JN Fries

2- Luke Suh, New Century International

State Champion- Rashad Rahman, 71st Classical

Original Oratory

6- Faith Frizzi, JN Fries

5- Naina Mittal, 71st Classical

4- Sherry Liu, Jay M Robinson

3- Kaylee Newcomer, Gray’s Creek

2- Emily Rogers, Mac Williams

State Champion- Naomi Ovrutski, Jay M Robinson

Duo Interpretation

6- Josie Savnik and Tayshlei Owens, Mac Williams

5- Silas Benavides and Aaron Pizzaro, New Century International

4- Pate Fuller and Riley Hall, 71st Classical

3- Hannah Daniels and Damian Gunter, Gray’s Creek

2- Josh Hurd and Christyna Regan, JN Fries

State Champions- Rakshita Kothapalli and Meghna Iyer, Jay M Robinson

Public Forum

6- Hope Bartlinski and Emma Warrick, New Century International

5- Asia Murchison and Richelle Ntumy, 71st Classical

4- Himanshu Kunwar and Andres Hui, 71st Classical

3- Krithika Senthil and Mastawal Tirfe, JN Fries

2- Tisha Abdul and Tanmayee Kanagala, JN Fries

State Champions- Devin Desai and Luke Draygo, Jay M Robinson

And the top six schools:

6- Mac Williams Middle School, Fayetteville

5- Gray’s Creek Middle School, Fayetteville

4- JN Fries Magnet School, Concord

State Third Place- New Century International Middle School, Fayetteville

State Runner-up- 71st Classical Middle School, Fayetteville

State Champion- Jay M Robinson Middle School, Charlotte

Congratulations to everyone who competed!