On January 19, the Forensics and debate teams traveled to neighboring Turner Ashby High School to compete in the Tor Johnson (improbably named after professional wrestler turned horror movie actor, Tor Johnson) Shenandoah Valley Forensics League Championship. Only those that placed in the top six at a previous ShenVaFl meet were eligible to compete.

The teams were successful overall, with their scores combining for an overall second place award at the tournament in the “big schools” division. In Forensics, junior Luke Gibson placed first in Prose, sophomore Mia Karr placed first in Impromptu, senior Jesse Henninger placed second in Impromptu, junior Austin Coffey placed third in Original Oratory, and sophomore Anna Dick placed third in Prose.

For debate, Daniel Roth placed first in Varsity Lincoln Douglas, Chris Macadam placed first in JV Lincoln Douglas, and Atticus Bolyard placed first in Varsity Policy. Senior Robby Ross placed second in Student Congress, sophomore Evan Dotas places second in Varsity Lincoln Douglas and freshman Ellie Plass placed second in JV Lincoln Douglas. The team of junior Rafael Snell-Feikema and junior Miles Donahue placed second in Varsity Policy, the team of junior Lydia Hatfield and sophomore Michelle Waligora placed third in Varsity Public Forum and the team of sophomore Rozda Askari and freshman Emma Ghaemmaghami placed third in Public Former JV Novice. Junior Jack Adamek placed third in Varsity Lincoln Douglas and the team of sophomore Eddie Mestre and junior Zamua Nasrawt placed third in Varsity Policy.

“It was definitely more of a challenge than the previous years,” Forensics co-captain Tyler Edwards said. “For what I did and being the first part of the season the way it was I feel good and I’m proud of how the team did.”