The Forensics team arrived at school on Saturday January 14 before most students had woken up and returned that night laden with trophies and metals. The team attended the ShenVaFl [Shenandoah Valley Forensics League] Tor Johnson Championship Tournament, held at John Handley High School, and open to all students that had qualified in a previous ShenVaFl meet could compete.
“We definitely had our best tournament of the season,” said Forensics coach Bradley Walton.
Lindsey Carpenter tied for first in Serious Dramatic Interpretation, Mia Karr and Jon Marks tied for first in Impromptu, Daelynn McCleve placed second in Prose, Ama Ansah placed fourth in Original Oratory, Merrill Harmison placed fourth in storytelling, and Tyler Edwards and Maggie Siciliano placed fifth in Humorous Dramatic Interpretation and Poetry, respectively.

“[I do Forensics because] I like public speaking. I like drama- its similar, but a little less time consuming,” freshman and new team member Harmison said.

The Forensics and debate teams combined took home a trophy for second place large school of the tournament, and second place large school for the whole season.Walton enjoys forensics not just because of the meets, but because of the students as well.

“[I like] getting to interact with some really cool kids that I wouldn’t get to interact with otherwise,” Walton added. Forensics team members practice once a week with the coaches or captains.
Team captain Lindsey Carpenter was ecstatic about the team taking home so many awards.
“It feels so good [to win],” co-captain Lindsey Carpenter said, “I’ve been waiting the whole year for this. I’m really glad I finished off this part of the season and start districts with a good rank and a good feel for my piece.”

The team will begin competing in the Virginia High School League Forensics competitions later this January.