Fitch receives first at state tournament

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Neighbors | Submitted.Austintown Fitch High School's Speech and Debate team participated in the Ohio High School Speech and Language Tournament Feb. 27 through March 1. Pictured, from left, are head coach Andrea Folsom, Jensen Hykes, Rachael Wyant, Logan Pasqual, Jarrett Kerpsack, Debate Coach Ron Deamicis, Josh Pittman, Debate coach Alysia D'Amico, Robyn Minkewicz, and Impromptu coach Lauran Ferguson.

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Neighbors | Submitted.Austintown Fitch High School's Speech and Debate team participated in the Ohio High School Speech and Language Tournament Feb. 27 through March 1. Pictured are Mia Colon, Cassie Wirtz, Marina Pavlichich, Kerri While, Garrett McGinty, Anna Jadue, Emily Kollar, Julia Jones, Krystle Arndt, Maia Totterdale, Jessica Harker, Carmen Burk, Jensen Hykes, Rachael Wyant, Logan Pasqual, Jarrett Kerpsack, Josh Pittman and Robyn Minkewicz.

Austintown Fitch High School’s Speech and Debate team participated in the Ohio High School Speech and Language state tournament Feb. 27 through March 1 and took home first place for the cumulative sweepstakes and sixth place from the team sweepstakes. There were 56 speech and debate teams competing in this competition.

The team’s coaches were recognized with coaching awards from the National Forensic League. Head coach Andrea Folsom will be receiving the Diamond Coaching Award at the National Tournament June 14-21 for her professional career that combines excellence and longevity. Head coach Folsom and debate coach Alysia D’Amico will also receive the Donus Roberts Ruby Coaching award for reaching their 1000th National Forensic League coaching points.

The national qualifiers who will be competing in June are Jarrett Kerpsack and Logan Pasqual (Duo Interpretation), Carmen Burk (International Extemp), My’kaylah Pearson (Drama) and Josh Pittman (Lincoln Douglas Debate).

State final round speakers included Logan Pasqual and Jarret Kerpsack (third place, Duo Interpretation), Rachael Wyant (fifth place, Prose Poetry), Jensen Hykes (sixth place, Prose Poetry), Robyn Minkewicz (fourth place, Impromptu Speaking) and Josh Pittman (Octa finalist and first in preliminary rounds, Lincoln Douglas Debate).

Kayla Sabo was a semi-finalist in Impromptu.

Quarter finalists included Mykaylah Pearson (Drama), Mia Colon (Duo), Maia Totterdale, (Duo), Emily Kollar (Humor), Cassie Wirtz (Impromptu), Carmen Burk (International Extemp), Albert Jordan (Oratorical), Christian Robert (Oratorical), Jessica Harker (US Extemp) and Garrett McGitty (US Exemp).