HS Nationals Results:

In the high school competition, 1,254 schools participated from across the country and around the world.  There were 5,749 students and 7,908 entries (some students double entered in certain speech events).  We managed 2 of those 7,908 – Aaron Dolgonos and Emmett Cumbler, both in extemporaneous debate, which turned out to be the most competitive single event at nationals.  Both won their first round but then lost their remaining three rounds in this highly competitive category.

MS Nationals Results:

In the middle school competition, 198 schools participated including programs from China, Canada, and Spain.  829 students competed in 1,189 event entries, of which 7 were from the STEM School.  Mirabelle Lorenzana, Orfeas Sioutas, and Ryan Liu competed in original oratory (a 10-minute memorized speech written by them), and Hayden Gotto, Shrey Pant, Michael Jimanov, and Ethan Liu competed in public forum debate (a 2 vs 2 debate that lasts approximately 45 minutes including preparation time). 

The two debate teams went 3-3 (Hayden/Shrey) and 2-4 (Jimanov/Liu), which was outstanding considering their opponents were from much more developed programs with multiple debate coaches per team.  Hayden and Shrey came within one final debate of competing for a medal.  And Ethan and Michael, despite going 2-4 (they won the first two debates and then were paired against the most difficult opponents), produced our team’s only medal: Ethan Liu won 6th best debater overall in the individual speaker rankings, out of 130 students, earning STEM School its first nationals medal!

This was STEM’s first year competing in Speech and Debate, congratulations teams and coaches Griffin and Dillon! There is no debating their success, and what is possible for year 2 and beyond!

-Coach John Griffin (edited)