Cottonwood Classic

P-Russ's recap:

SUBJECT: Conquering Cottonwood!

Good afternoon, all!

The Gavelin' Eagles spent the past two days at our longest and biggest event of the season so far: the Cottonwood Classic Speech & Debate Tournament down at Cottonwood Classical Preparatory School in Albuquerque. Despite competing against nearly 200 other students from around the state, these kids did us proud! Please join me in celebrating the following achievements:

• For the second year in a row, your Gavelin' Eagles won the Cottonwood Spirit Award for having the best decorated table (see pics). This win brings us a silly amount of pride. Eagle Spirit! 🦅✊🦅

• Josiah Dineyazhe was a finalist in Impromptu, the tournament's most competitive Speech event! He finished 6th overall.

• At her S&D debut, Marissa Mullin was a finalist in Humorous Interpretation, the tournament's most competitive Interp event! She also finished 6th overall.

• The team of Marcus Nahalea and Haylei Redhouse may well have been quarterfinalists for Public Forum, the tournament's most competitive Debate event! They did not officially break to elim rounds, but results are showing them in 8th place, which suggests they should have. We are looking into it! Marcus also ranked 7th in International Extemp, 8th in his House chamber of Congressional Debate, and 9th in Impromptu! That's right: Marcus quadruple-registered for a tournament the same week he flew back and forth across the country to represent NPS in Washington DC!

• The team of Bradley Redhouse and Rodericka Hale-Toledo earned 2nd place in Duo Interpretation! Bradley also ranked 7th in Humorous Interpretation, and Rod ranked 9th in the same event!

• The team of Natashia Anderson and Nalanaya Austin ranked 3rd in Duo Interpretation! Natashia also ranked 3rd in Program Oral Interpretation!

• Danica Becenti ranked 3rd in Storytelling and was the Top Novice Speaker in that event! She also ranked 9th in her House chamber of Congressional Debate!

• Niejah Davis ranked 4th in Storytelling!

• At her S&D debut, Lola Williams ranked 5th in Dramatic Interpretation and was the Top Novice Speaker in that event!

• Aspyn Kaskalla ranked 6th in Informative Speaking, nearly breaking to Finals in the tournament's second most competitive Speech event, honestly missing it on a technicality! Aspyn also ranked 8th in the prestigious Senate chamber of Congressional Debate and 10th in US Extemp!

• Also in the highly competitive event of Informative Speaking, Kiara Dechee ranked 9th and was stunningly close to breaking herself -- in just her second S&D appearance!

We also had a few students compete in one of the National Speech & Debate Assocation's online scrimmages on Thursday night against students from across the country, with some equally amazing results!

• Talen Becenti placed 1st in Storytelling! TK also ranked 3rd in Original Spoken Word Poetry and in her round of Original Oratory!

• Aspyn Kaskalla placed 2nd in her round of Informative Speaking!

• Niejah Davis placed 4th in her round of Poetry!

Thanks so much to everyone who made the Cottonwood tournament possible for our kids -- in particular to all the judges who came out for us, to assistant coach and indefatigable cheerleader (and table decorator!) Jennifer Kaskalla, and to Selena Horse for getting us there and back safely. Selena even came in and had a great time watching our kids compete in several rounds!

Three invitationals down and three to go -- then it's into the postseason. Our next one is at Cibola High on December 2, so wish us luck!

Best,

John Russell