Press release issued today:
Medford, OR- Kira Clark, Alexa Sleadd, Destiny Kruse, Colin Scott, and Lacey Scott took the top five sweepstakes awards in speech while Dillon Holst, Joshua Knopp, Chris Reigg and Ted Bradley lead the pack in debate competition at a three-day tournament held last week in Medford.
The tournament, sponsored by Clarion Forensics Club of Grants Pass, was held on January 17-19 at Bethel Church at Vista Pointe and attracted over seventy home schooled students ages twelve to eighteen from Washington and Oregon. Kira Clark of Seattle received first place in the Sweepstakes, receiving the highest accumulated score in all her events.
First place finishers for Clarion Club included Mary Owen, Grants Pass, Impromptu; Natalie Emmons, Grants Pass, Apologetics; Colin Scott, Rogue River, Open Interpretive; Destiny Kruse, Central Point, Dramatic Interpretive; Lacey Scott, Rogue River, Original Oratory; Colin Scott, Rogue River, Humorous Interpretive; Brendan Claffey, Grants Pass, Expository; and Aaron and Alexa Sleadd, Grants Pass for their duo interpretation of The Elephant’s Child by Rudyard Kipling.
Dillon Holst of Central Point took first place in Lincoln-Douglas debate in this, his first year of competing in the event. His affirmative case that the United States should more highly value isolationism won him the top spot against Kira Clark.
Chris Reigg and Ted Bradley, both of Portland, received first place in team policy debate. Joshua Knopp of Portland placed first in speaker points for team debate.
“We were especially encouraged by over a hundred people who volunteered their time as judges,” said Richard Emmons, club president and local business growth consultant. He added, “Without objective judges we can’t have a tournament. It’s as simple as that.” One community judge was Gail Beagin, the director of Child Evangelism Fellowship (Good News Club) in Jackson County who said, “I had the privilege last Friday to hear 8 apologetics speeches from some wonderful teens. I was blessed by them and thank the good Lord for showing me that there are such disciplined, and well trained young people willing to share with the world.”
When asked about the tournament, Alexa Sleadd answered, “The highlight for me was meeting new friends from all over the region and seeing old friends. This year I wasn’t as nervous because my focus was less on me and rather on Christ. Winning was less important to me this time. I just had fun!”
When asked for comments, Dillon Holst said, “It was the best debate I ever had; tons of fun! But I wouldn’t have been able to do as well as I did without Mrs. Deems coaching me.”
Chris Reigg and Ted Bradley, members of Rainmakers Club of Portland and both age 15, felt especially fortunate to perform so well after struggling with health problems throughout the season. Chris was hospitalized with a life-threatening condition for 17 days, and Ted was too ill the week before the tournament to compete in a Washington match with Chris. The pair rallied and took first place with their affirmative case on the league’s resolution advocating illegal immigration reform.
“I love to see the fruit of hard work among our home school students. Our club’s motto is: Christ—Communication—Companionship—Competition—Character—Commission. That’s what we saw happening at this tournament,” said John Sleadd, coach for Clarion Club and pastor of Coram Deo Church in Grants Pass.
Of the seventy students competing at the meet, forty-six qualified for the next level of regional competition. Of those, thirty were Clarion members. Regional competition is scheduled for April in Redmond, WA. Winners at Regionals will go on to the National Championships in June. Clarion Club is an affiliate of the National Christian Forensics and Communications Association (www.ncfca.org).
