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Boardman speakers take sixth at Canfield event
By ABBY SLANKER
The Boardman speech and debate team finished sixth in both the Team Sweepstakes and Power Sweepstakes during Canfield’s annual speech and debate tournament Jan. 8.
The tournament was sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Western Mahoning County and was held at both Canfield High School and Canfield Village Middle School.
Nineteen schools participated in this year’s tournament, including Austintown-Fitch, Boardman, Canfield, Cardinal Mooney, Champion, Columbiana, Howland, Jackson-Milton, John F. Kennedy High School, Lakeview, Pa., Liberty, Niles McKinley, Poland Seminary, Slippery Rock Area High School, Pa., South Range, Southeast, Springfield, Ursuline and Youngstown Christian.
“We had a fantastic tournament with roughly 450 students from 19 schools competing,” said Jeremy Hamilton
director, Canfield Speech and Debate Team.
Students competing in the tournament were from grades 9 through 12, and each student competed in only one “event” during the day. There were a total of 12 events in which students compete, including a variety of options such as oratory, acting, political discussion, debates and discussing quotes.
Canfield won the Team Sweepstakes event with 81.75 points to outdistance second-place Howland (80). Fitch (73) was third, Mooney (67.75) took fourth, Niles (67) finished fifth and Boardman (60) was sixth.
In the Power Sweepstakes, Howland (117) won the title, beating Canfield (83) and Fitch (72). Mooney (50) was fourth, Niles (31) finished fifth and Boardman (26) took sixth.
As is customary, the team which hosts the tournament must come up with a theme for the day. This year’s Canfield tournament was presented with the theme of “Blue’s Clues” and hallways, classrooms and auditorium were decorated with characters from the show, which the team members made.
Alicia Lawson and Kiyan Taghaboni led Boardman’s effort by winning the Duo Interpretation category.
Mykale White was sixth in Dramatic Interpretation, Matthew Albani finished fourth in Humor and Taylor Hanigosky was fourth in United States Extemporaneous.
The Kate Farragher Memorial Trophy, which is given to the school that improves the most in Team Sweepstakes from last year’s Canfield tournament to this year’s, was awarded to Champion High School. The team improved by 26 points.
According to Bob Thomas, secretary, Kiwanis Club of Western Mahoning County, and Barb Smith, president of the club, the Kiwanis have been sponsoring this tournament for more than 15 years. The club purchased the trophies and Thomas and Smith helped with the trophy presentation at the awards ceremony.
The top six students in each of the 12 events were recognized for their outstanding performances.
“Our club also benefits from sponsoring the tournament because, in turn, winners from the Canfield team present programs at our meetings in the spring,” said Smith.