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Speech team second at state tournament
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Neighbors | Submitted.The Canfield Speech and Debate Team conducted a walk-through at Canfield High School before leaving for 2012 Ohio High School Speech League State Tournament March 2-3 where the team was state runner-up. Team members who traveled to the tournament included, from left, (front) Katelyn Baltes, Mia Battaglia and Paige Brucoli, (second row) Annie McGlone, Sophia Pilolli, Elise Szabo, Arjun Subramanyam, Katharine Morrison, Vivienne Favre, Kaylee Kapalko, Kelly Fleming, (third row) Mary Elizabeth Monda, Hayley Ward, Bailey Sandin, Kelly Ranttila, Stacey Slagle, Sara Lytle, Gabrielle Brant, Caroline Bennett and Rosie Jo Neddy, (back row) Emily Damelio, Maria Kenner, Nathan Pecchia, Dominique Favre, Brandon Brooks, Daniel Yozwiak, Billy Quirk, Richie Abel, Nicole Chahine, Gary Zamary, Rusty Fleming, Andrik Massaro, Taylor Swift, Maleck Saleh, Shane Deiley, Ishmeet Grewal, CJ Blaney, Jodran Teutsch, Aly Saleh, Tim Nesnidol, head coach Jeremy Hamilton and Lydia Scheel.
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Canfield Speech and Debate Team officers are, from left Tim Nesnidol, CJ Blaney, Gabrielle Brant, president Jordan Teutsch, Caroline Bennett, vice-president Aly Saleh and Kaylee Kapalko.
By ABBY SLANKER
The Canfield Speech and Debate team was the state runner-up in the 2012 Ohio High School Speech League State Tournament with 63 points March 2-3 at Jackson High School in Massillon.
Schools from throughout the state participated, with Canfield having the most entries of any school with a total of 41 students competing.
“At the end of the day, we had a great performance at the state tournament and a terrific season. More than that, we have a special group of individuals on this team, and it is an honor to be their head coach,” said Jeremy Hamilton, Speech and Debate Team director.
Hamilton is assisted by a coaching staff that includes Sami Nesnidol, Paul Sauline, Susan Schiraldi, Travis Watson and Janet Vagas.
Individually, the team had students earn state finalist honors, including state runners-up in Duo Interpretation, juniors Nathan Pecchia and Rosie Jo Neddy; state runner-up in Humor, junior Tim Nesnidol; state runners-up in Public Forum Debate, seniors Ishmeet Grewal and Shane Deiley; third in Ohio in Duo Interpretation, seniors Jordan Teutsch and Sophia Pilolli; fourth in Ohio in Duo Interpretation, sophomores Mary Elizabeth Monda and Elise Szabo; top four in Ohio in Public Forum Debate, seniors Stacey Slagle and Taylor Swift and top eight in Ohio in Lincoln-Douglas Debate, junior Andrik Massaro.
Other team members who participated at the state tournament included Gabrielle Brant, Student Congress, Annie McGlone, Oratorical Interpretation; Dominique Favre, Humor; Caroline Bennett, Drama; Kelly Fleming, International Extemp; Kaylee Kapalko, Impromptu; Gary Zamary, Impromptu; Daniel Yozwiak, Impromptu; Sara Lytle, Lincoln-Douglas Debate; Aly Saleh, Public Forum Debate; Kelly Ranttila, Public Forum Debate; Rusty Fleming, Public Forum Debate; Maleck Saleh, Public Forum Debate; Nicole Chahine, Student Congress; Billy Quirk, Student Congress; Hayley Ward, Oratorical Interpretation; Katharine Morrison, Oratorical Interpretation; Mia Battaglia, Oratorical Interpretation; Katelyn Baltes, Original Oratory; Paige Brucoli, Humor; Lydia Scheel, Drama; Emily Damelio, Drama; Vivienne Favre, Drama; Maria Kenner, United States Extemp; Richie Abel, United States Extemp; Brandon Brooks, Prose & Poetry Reading; Arjun Subramanyam, Impromptu; C. J. Blaney, Lincoln-Douglas Debate and Bailey Sandin, Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
Highlights of the Speech and Debate Team for the year included a team record 95 students joining the team in September and a team record 262 individual trophies won, with the previous record set in 2011 at 235. Also, a team record of 63 different students earned a trophy this year, with the previous record set in 2011 at 50.
A team record 41 students competed at state, with the previous record set in 2011 at 36. The team’s 41 students competing at state was the most in Ohio. Individually, the team had three entries, which were state-runners up and 12 students who were recognized at the state awards ceremony. Collectively, the team was state runner-up for the second straight year.
Currently, the team has four straight years of placing among the Top five schools at state. This is the longest current streak in Ohio.
According to Hamilton, since 1989, as far back as he can find results, there are only six programs in Ohio that have earned Top five at state in at least four consecutive seasons.
“In the past 23 seasons, we are one of only six programs in Ohio that have earned at least four consecutive Top 5 finishes at state,” Hamilton said.
The Canfield Speech and Debate Team and individual winners received recognition at the awards assembly that concluded the tournament.
“Such success is possible only through the support of our administration, our faculty/staff and parents of our team members, as well as the dedication and talents of our team members and coaching staff,” said Hamilton.
“We have an amazing extracurricular going for students at Canfield High School. We take pride in offering an activity that has competitive success along with social and academic benefits to everyone involved.”