Tuesday, March 29, 2011

OH, SO CLOSE...BUT HOW SWEET IT IS

If you take a moment to look back at some of the tournaments from the William Young Tournament on and see where Plymouth Speakers finished in relation to Munster (and understanding they beat us by over 40 at William Young and won their own tournament by over 50 points), you can see the reason for the headline above.  Also, consider that this team lost to Warren Central, Fishers, Chesterton, and North Central at big tournaments and you really know how sweet it could be.

To make the previous headline and paragraph clear, allow me to share the Plymouth lost the AA and Lawson trophies to Munster by 1 point.  Yes, like every PHS team, we wanted to win.  But, nobody except for our 35 entries, 1 alternate, and coaching staff believed we could make it that close and blow out the rest of the state - including those who had previously handled us with ease.

Here is the case for success by the numbers...35 entries went to state...25 of those advanced to semi-finals (the top 18)...13 of those advanced to the finals (the top 6)...and 9 of those were 1st Team All-State (the top 3) and brought home hardware.

TEAM STANDINGS
1.  Munster (AA) - scoring 90 points
2.  Plymouth (AA) - scoring 89 points
3.  Warren Central (AAA) - scoring 63 points
4.  Ben Davis (AAA) - scoring 51 points
5.  Chesterton (AAA) - scoring 51 points
6.  Fishers (AAA) - scoring 51 points
7.  North Central (AAA) - scoring 38 points
8.  Culver Academies (AA) - scoring 30 points
9.  Connersville (AA) - scoring 23 points
10.  Southport (AAA) - scoring 20 points
Sectional opponents Elkhart Central (AAA) and Concord (AA) finished in 11th and 12th respectively.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
Finalists = All caps and bold
Semi-finalists = All caps

Impromptu
BRYT HIATT (Senior) - State Champion
MICHAILA NATE (Sophomore) - 3rd Place
PATRICK FELKE (Junior) - 6th Place
KELSEY SHAFFER (Junior) - 8th Place

USA Extemp
BRYT HIATT (Senior) - State Champion
KELSEY SHAFFER (Junior) - 2nd Place
MICHAILA NATE (Sophomore) - 16th Place

Declamation
PAULINE DAGAAS (Sophomore) - 2nd Place
AUSTIN CRAFT (Senior) - 3rd Place

Discussion
NELSON WAGNER (Senior) - 3rd Place
DEVEN BERGER (Senior) - 4th Place
GAGE PYNAERT (Junior) - 8th Place

International Extemp
PATRICK FELKE (Junior) - 3rd Place
REBECCA BRUMBAUGH (Junior) - 13th Place
ELLEN SMITH (Freshman) - 14th Place

Humor
SAM COMPTON (Senior) - 3rd Place
Sean Hatfield (Senior) - 21st Place

Drama
EMILY WALDEN (Senior) - 6th Place
SARAH GOUKER (Senior) - 7th Place

Memorized Duo
SEAN HATFIELD and JASON PICKELL (Senior and Junior) - 6th Place
Christy Chipman and Kyle Barry (Junior and Freshman) - 20th Place
Christina Krozel and Ashton Morrow (Junior and Junior) - 36th Place

Scripted Duo
SARAH GOUKER and OLIVIA HILLIARD (Senior and Junior) - 13th Place
AUSTIN CRAFT and STEPHANIE CRAFT (Senior and Senior) - 14th Place
Jordin Cook and Dalton Van Dusen (Senior and Senior) - 20th Place

Original Oratory
PAULINE DAGAAS (Sophomore) - 7th Place
Rebecca Brumbaugh (Junior) - 27th Place

Poetry
EMILY WALDEN (Senior) - 9th Place
Michael Gray (Junior) - 36th Place

Prose
STEPHANIE GORKA (Senior) - 12th Place
Olivia Hilliard (Junior) - 33rd Place

Original Performance
COURTNEY HARRIS and OLIVIA HOUIN (Senior and Senior) - 14th Place
Hayden Wolfe and Luke Bumpus (Senior and Junior) - 21st Place
Jessica Cleveland (Junior) - 23rd Place

Broadcasting
April Bowen (Freshman) - 36th Place

State Alternate
Kate Peters (Freshman)

Heading to Dallas for NFL Nationals

Four individuals added their names to the list of PHS speakers headed to the NFL National Tournament in June.  Congratulations to each of the following:

BRYT HIATT - Champion in USA Extemp
PATRICK FELKE - Champion in International Extemp
SEAN HATFIELD and JASON PICKELL - Champions in Duo Interp

These four will be joining MICHAILA NATE who qualified for the Senate back in January.

If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to help defray the costs for these students to attend the NFL National Tournament (and be listed in the program for our Showcase 2011 program - formerly known as the Recital) simply send a check made out to PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL.  Address it to...

David McKenzie, NFL
Plymouth High School
#1 Big Red Drive
Plymouth, IN 46563

If you would like your donation to sponsor a specific person (Maybe you know them or maybe you did their event.), simply list the person you wish to sponsor on the memo line of your check.

Sunday, March 06, 2011

SECTIONAL SUCCESS!!!

The 2011 team added another Sectional Championship to the legacy of dominance of North-Central Indiana by using team depth and balance to overcome the individual successes of performers from other Sectional foes.

TEAM STANDINGS
1. Plymouth (223)
2. Concord (75)
3. Canterbury (70)
4. Elkhart Central (57)
5. Columbia City (27)
6. Bethany Christian (12)
7. Westview (6)

INDIVIDUAL FINISHES

Memorized Duo (a sweep)
Sean Hatfield & Jason Pickell - Champions
Christy Chipman & Kyle Barry - 2nd
Ashton Morrow & Christina Krozel - 3rd

Scripted Duo (a sweep)
Sarah Gouker & Olivia Hilliard - Champions
Austin Craft & Stephanie Gorka - 2nd
Jordin Cook & Dalton Van Dusen - 3rd

USA Extemp (a sweep)
Bryt Hiatt - Champion (straight 1s from all 9 judges)
Michaila Nate - 2nd
Kelsey Shaffer - 3rd

Impromptu
Michaila Nate - Champion
Bryt Hiatt - 3rd
Kelsey Shaffer - 4th
Patrick Felke - 5th

Original Performance
Jessica Cleveland - Champion
Courtney Harris & Olivia Houin - 2nd
Hayden Wolfe & Luke Bumpus - 5th

International Extemp
Patrick Felke - Champion
Rebecca Brumbaugh - 3rd
Ellen Smith - 5th

Declamation
Pauline Dagaas - Champion
Austin Craft - 2nd

Discussion
Deven Berger - Champion
Gage Pynaert - 4th
Nelson Wagner - 5th

Humor
Sam Compton - 2nd (Judges' Preference loss)
Sean Hatfield - 3rd
Kate Peters - 8th (1st alternate)

Drama
Emily Walden - 2nd (Judges' Preference loss)
Sarah Gouker - 3rd

Prose
Olivia Hilliard - 2nd
Stephanie Gorka - 3rd

Poetry
Emily Walden - 2nd
Michael Gray - 4th

Broadcasting
April Bowen - 2nd

Original Oratory
Pauline Dagaas - 3rd
Rebecca Brumbaugh - 4th

On the Rise at Elkhart Memorial

One week from Sectional, and it's time to really get after it.  The team had an outstanding day as it prepared for - hopefully - another Sectional Championship and loaded up on District events in an effort to prepare for March 12th.  Following several tournaments where the team fell a few points short of Chesterton, the team bounced back with a resounding victory.  Hopefully, it's a measure of things to come.

TEAM STANDINGS
1. Plymouth (194)
2. Chesterton (138)
3. Elkhart Central (52)
4. Valparaiso (18)
5. Marian (15)

INDIVIDUAL FINISHES
Memorized Duo
Sean Hatfield & Jason Pickell - Champion
Austin Craft & Stephanie Gorka - 2nd
Christy Chipman & Kyle Barry - 5th
Sarah Gouker & Olivia Hilliard - 6th

Declamation
Pauline Dagaas - Champion
Austin Craft - 2nd

USA Extemp
Bryt Hiatt - Champion
Michaila Nate -3rd
Kelsey Shaffer - 4th

Original Performance
Jessica Cleveland - Champion
Luke Bumpus & Hayden Wolfe - 3rd
Courtney Harris & Olivia Houin - 4th

Impromptu
Bryt Hiatt - Champion
Michaila Nate - 3rd
Kelsey Shaffer - 4th

Discussion
Gage Pynaert - Champion
Nelson Wagner - 3rd
Deven Berger - 4th

Drama
Austin Craft - Champion
Sarah Gouker - 3rd
Emily Walden - 4th

Humor
Sam Compton - Champion
Olivia Houin - 4th
Sean Hatfield - 5th

Prose
Olivia Hilliard - Champion
Stephanie Gorka - 6th

International Extemp
Rebecca Brumbaugh - 2nd
Patrick Felke - 3rd
Ellen Smith - 7th



Poetry
Emily Walden - 2nd
Michael Gray - 4th

Original Oratory
Pauline Dagaas - 3rd
Rebecca Brumbaugh 5th

Scripted Duo
Jordin Cook & Dalton VanDusen - 4th

Broadcasting
April Bowen - 6th

Monday, February 14, 2011

Munster Invitational - 3rd Place...Again

The PHS Speakers ventured west for the 25 team Munster Invitational.  Alex Hollett ('03) drove down from Chicago to lend a hand with our judging obligation.  Thanks and good to see you, Alex!  :)

TEAM RESULTS
1.  Chesterton (72 points)
2.  Warren Central (69 points)
3.  Plymouth (68 points)
4.  Culver Academies (32 points)
5.  Ben Davis (22 points)
6.  Marian (13 points)

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
USA Extemp
Bryt Hiatt - Champion
Kelsey Shaffer - 3rd

Scripted Duo
Sarah Gouker and Olivia Hilliard - Champion
Austin Craft and Stephanie Gorka - 4th

Impromptu
Bryt Hiatt - Champion
Michaila Nate - 7th (omitted from the final)

Declamation
Pauline Dagaas - 2nd
Austin Craft - 8th

Discussion
Nelson Wagner - 3rd
Deven Berger - 6th

Drama
Sarah Gouker - 5th
Austin Craft - 8th

Memorized Duo
Christina Chipman and Kyle Barry - 6th
Sean Hatfield and Jason Pickell - 8th

International Extemp
Michaila Nate - 6th

Humor
Sam Compton - 7th

Prose
Stephanie Gorka - 8th

Team Travels to Lafayette Jeff and Places 3rd

Details to come...

IHSFA State Debate Results

The PHS Debate Team narrowly missed a Top Ten finish at this year's IHSFA State Debate Tournament.

Bryt Hiatt followed up his district tournament with a hard luck draw.  In preliminary rounds, he went 4 and 2 with one loss coming on a really strange ballot and the other loss on a perfect score tie with the NE District Champion who went on to finish 2nd in the state.  His 4 and 2 record made him the 10th seed placing him against the 7th seed who had a 5-1 record.  The 7th seed happened to be our NW District Champion - Sean Tuttle - who Bryt lost to at districts.  (Sean's loss in prelims happened to be on a ballot signed by the same judge who gave Bryt his really strange loss on Friday.)  Ironically, Sean went on to win the State Championship.  In other words, Bryt's only losses (other than the strange ballot) came to the 1st and 2nd place speakers in the state.

The Congress team had an outstanding tournament with all four speakers advancing to the semi-state level and two of the four advancing to the Super Senate final round.

TEAM RESULTS
1.  Chesterton (71 points)
2.  West Lafayette (40.5 points)
3.  Penn (37 points)
4.  Brebeuf (32.5 points)
5.  Munster (31.5 points)
6. Valparaiso (27 points)
7.  Canterbury (17 points)
8.  F.W. Northrop (16.5 points)
9.  F.W. South Side (14.5 points)
10.  Carroll (11.5 points)

INDIVIDUAL REGIONAL RESULTS
Bryt Hiatt - 4 and 2 record in LD (10th seed)
Michaila Nate - Congress Chamber 4 - Champion
Rebecca Brumbaugh - Congress Chamber 1 - 4th Place
Jason Pickell - Congress Chamber 3 - 5th Place
Kelsey Shaffer - Congress Chamber 2 - 6th Place

INDIVIDUAL SEMI-STATE CONGRESS RESULTS
Michaila Nate - 3rd Place
Kelsey Shaffer - 6th Place

INDIVIDUAL STATE RESULTS
Bryt Hiatt - 10th Place (highest placing octa-finalist in LD)
Kelsey Shaffer - 12th Place (Super Senate)
Michaila Nate - 15th Place (Super Senate)

Thursday, February 03, 2011

Northwest NFL Debate

Bryt Hiatt competed in the Northwest Indiana NFL Debate National Qualifier and narrowly missed qualifying for nationals in Lincoln-Douglas Debate.

Bryt won his first two rounds prior to losing by a total of four points on three ballots in round three to the eventual undefeated tournament champion.  By virtue of losing to an undefeated competitor, Bryt drew a round four bye.  In round five, he faced an undefeated opponent once again and won a unanimous decision.  For round six, Bryt and a once-defeated opponent from Valparaiso remained to debate for the final spot at nationals.  Unfortunately, Bryt came up on the short end with a three point loss (1 point from each of the three judges).

It's always tough to come that close, but...not too bad for someone who was LD debating for the fifth time in his career and for the first time this season due to scheduling conflicts and illness.

Oh, by the way, Bryt - by himself - finished 5th in the team competition.  (And, he was only two points behind La Porte).

William Young Invitational Brings Another Huge Field

For the second week in a row, schools from all over Indiana came to visit Plymouth High School - this time for a speech tournament.  The William Young Invitational boasted a field of twenty-six teams.  Plymouth withdrew from team competition (but finished 4th overall).  The team was missing several individuals for various reasons, but that was no excuse.   I guess the message is two-fold... (1) this year's team is not good enough to overcome leaders being gone and still hope to win, and (2) this team is being out-worked by other powers in the state.  We are far enough behind that this will be a long, slow recovery - not a one or two week fix.

TEAM STANDINGS
1.  Munster (141 points)
2.  Warren Central (109 points)
3.  Chesterton (67 points)
4.  PLYMOUTH (Not eligible as the host school)
5.  Culver Academies (52 points)
6.  Ben Davis (30 points)
7.  Columbia City (16 points)
8.  Ft. Wayne Northrop (7 points)
9.  Valparaiso (5 points)
10. La Porte (5 points)

INDIVIDUAL FINISHES
Discussion
Gage Pynaert - Champion
Nelson Wagner - 3rd
Deven Berger - 9th

Memorized Duo
Sean Hatfield and Jason Pickell - Champion

International Extemp
Michaila Nate - 3rd
Ellen Smith - 6th

Broadcasting
Christina Krozel - 3rd
April Bowen - 8th
Sommer McClellan - 9th
Rachel Hacha - 12th

Declamation
Austin Craft - 5th
Pauline Dagaas - 6th

USA Extemp
Bryt Hiatt - 5th

Scripted Duo
Austin Craft and Emily Walden - 6th
Jordin Cook and Dalton VanDusen - 9th
Christina Chipman and Kyle Barry - 10th
Briana Gantz and Tyler Wagner - 12th

Original Performance
Jessica Cleveland - 6th

Prose
Stephanie Gorka - 7th
Olivia Hilliard - 10th

Drama
Austin Craft - 7th
Emily Walden - 12th

Original Oratory
Pauline Dagaas - 9th
Christine Beckmann - 12th

Humor
Sean Hatfield - 9th

Impromptu
Michaila Nate - 11th

Poetry
Nobody in the Top Twelve - ouch!

Plymouth Debate Invitational

On January 15th, PHS played host to the largest tournament of the debate season with 24 teams in attendance.  Actually, two tournaments were held that day. 

First, fifteen Plymouth students were entered in the Northwest Indiana NFL Congress tournament - a national qualifier. 

MICHAILA NATE became the first national qualifier from Plymouth this season by finishing 2nd in the Senate.  Even more gratifying for Michaila was the fact that the only individual to defeat her was Florence Chen from Penn.  Last year, Florence finished 6th in the nation and was an automatic qualifier to this year's tournament by virtue of her performance last season.

Rebecca Brumbaugh finished second in House Chamber A (only one qualifier in House chambers) and is the alternate to the national tournament.  She was voted outstanding presiding officer of her chamber by her peers.

Kelsey Shaffer finished fourth in House Chamber B and was also voted outstanding presiding officer by her peers in her chamber.

Finally, freshman Ellen Smith led the remainder of the team in the separate debate competition with a first place finish in the Novice Congress competition.  Behind her outstanding performance, the depleted debate team (Northwest Congress finishes were not included) still finished 10th in the tournament.

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