Atsá Invitational

P-Russ's recap:

SUBJECT: Amazing success at the Atsá Invitational!

Good evening, all,

Holy moly! What a weekend the Gavelin' Eagles had at the first annual Atsá Invitational Speech & Debate Team and Diné Cultural Celebration, which took place right here on the NPS campus! We hosted nearly a dozen schools from across New Mexico and even up in Colorado. Well over 100 students were on campus competing, and we had upwards of 50 adults coaching, judging, and just taking part in the excitement! Of course, we couldn't have done it without the help of so many individuals. Gratitude included below!

But first... the team majorly kicked butt! Notable rankings include:

• Ciera Charley, who took 2nd place in Poetry!

• Ember Bahe, who, on her S&D debut, took 2nd place in Original Spoken Word Poetry and earned the Top Novice Speaker award for that event! Ember also placed 5th in Poetry!

• Aspyn Kaskalla, who took 3rd place in Informative Speaking, as well as 4th place in International Extemporaneous Speaking!

• Ashleigh Mitchell, who took 3rd place in Poetry and earned the Top Novice Speaker award for that event! Ashleigh also placed 8th in Program Oral Interpretation!

• Nalanaya Austin, who took 3rd place in Original Spoken Word Poetry!

• Marcus Nahalea, who took 3rd place in Int'l Extemp, as well as 8th place in Impromptu (the tournament's most competitive Speech event)!

• Bradley Redhouse, who took 3rd place in Humorous Interpretation, as well as 10th place in Impromptu!

• The team of Hailey Thomas and Jairus Benally-Begaye, who took 3rd place in Duo Interpretation!

• Avery Himmelreich, who took 4th place in Program Oral Interpretation (the tournament's most competitive Interp event)!

• Haylei Redhouse, who took 4th place in Original Spoken Word Poetry!

• Niejah Davis, who took 4th place in Poetry!

• Natashia Anderson, who took 5th place in the highly competitive Senate chamber of Congressional Debate! 

• Daykiin Draper, who took 5th place in Int'l Extemp and earned the Top Novice Speaker award for that event!

• Ayden Redhouse, who took 6th place in Original Spoken Word Poetry!

• Talen Becenti and Danica Becenti, who each took 7th place in their respective House chambers of Congressional Debate!

• Tamarron Austin, who took 8th place in the Senate!

• Kyryk Begay, who, on his S&D debut, took 8th place in his House chamber!

• Elliott Crooks, who took 9th place in his House chamber!

I don't think we've ever medaled and placed so many times at an event! So proud!!! Please congratulate each of these amazing kids!

Also worthy of note and celebration is the performance of former NPS student Dineh Benally, who now attends Kirtland Central High School and was part of their brand-new S&D team's inaugural delegation at our tournament. Incredibly, Dineh earned 5th place in the extremely competitive event of Impromptu and earned the Top Novice Speaker award for that event!

And now for the gratitude. These incredible events would not have been possible without a far more incredible community. We appreciate all the support and good vibes we received, but some special recognitions are in order:

• Ahéhee' to the National Speech & Debate Association for their ongoing support of our program. Executive Director J. Scott Wunn was even kind enough to send in this video!

• Ahéhee' to Mr. Belin and Ms. James for the incredible efforts they went to to make the Diné Cultural Celebration a success. They cooked an incredible meal for 100+ guests, and Mr. Belin provided an exceptional evening of entertainment for everyone as they ate.

• Ahéhee' to Mr. Tippeconnie, Mr. Bekis, and Ms. Ashley for giving up their Friday nights to lead stations in the Diné Cultural Celebration as well. Mr. Tippeconnie taught our guests how to weave, Mr. Bekis showed them how to play Navajo 10, and Ms. Ashley was part of an incredible Diné Bizaad instructional team!

• Ahéhee' to Landon Succo, Anthony Cruz, and Hailey Thomas for helping Mr. Belin to lead us in song-and-dance on Friday night!

• Ahéhee' to IT, and in particular to Mr. Prettyontop, who was there both Friday night and throughout the day on Saturday ensuring the tournaments' vast tech needs were met.

• Ahéhee' to security, facilities, athletics, residential, and admin for all doing their parts to support not just our students but all the kids who were there, and thus enabling this tournament to go off without a hitch!

• Ahéhee' to the incredible parent, student, and community volunteers who stepped up in too many ways for me to list. Of particular note among these groups are student volunteers Josiah Dineyazhe, Kaycie Muneta, Justyce Scott, and Nanahbah Teller; parent volunteers Ronica Becenti and Nichele Salazar; and community volunteer (and Gavelin' Eagles assistant coach) Malyssa Egge!

• Ahéhee' to all the staff who contributed to our potluck on Saturday, as well as to Ms. Wolfe, Ms. Ashley, and Coach Stephanie Coon, who gave up part of their weekend to judge the competition!

• But the biggest ahéhee' of all goes to my partner-in-crime and assistant coach Ms. Kaskalla, who worked harder than anyone, got up earlier and stayed later, to make this tournament a stunning success!

We are back at it in less than two weeks with the Cottonwood Classic down in Albuquerque. Wish us luck!

Best,

Russell