This past weekend the Clear Brook Speech and Debate Team traveled to Clear Creek High School to participate in their tournament. The team surpassed their competition, especially in the realm of debate, both Lincoln-Douglas and Cross Examination. In Champion Lincoln-Douglas Debate, team Historian, Adnan Mohamed, won a 2nd place speaking award for his unrivaled presentation style during his debates. The team’s Extemporaneous Speaking Captain, Mohamed Al-Hendy, made it to Quarter-Finals of Championship Lincoln-Douglas Debate, earning himself two more points towards qualification for the Texas Forensic Association’s state meet in March. He now has a total of 8 points. The team’s two Cross Examination Debate Co-Captains, Aziz Ali and Karl Schaefer (also the team’s Vice President) made it to semi-finals in Champion CX Debate, earning a 3rd place trophy. This also earned the boys qualification for the TFA State meet in March.  

           

            The novices of the team showed their expertise by competing in many events, with big results in both speaking and debate events. In Novice Extemporaneous Speaking, member Jessica Cetrone made it all the way to finals, where she placed 4^th.. Member Nathan Tamburello also competed in this event, and received a 2nd place trophy in finals. Neil Patel, another team member, competed in Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate, where he moved on to finals and placed 2^nd overall. He also earned a 2^nd place Novice LD Speaker Award for receiving high marks for speaking presentation.

Team President, John Fossum, competed in Champion Lincoln Douglas debate, where he made it to Quarter-Finals and received two more points towards his qualification for the Texas Forensic Association State Meet in the spring. He now has a total of six points. Team member Raveena Bhalara also competed in Champion Lincoln Douglas Debate, where she made it to Quarter-Finals and received her first two points towards TFA State qualification.

Raveena also entered in the Original Oratory event for her first time and made it to finals, placing 6^th. This earned her one state point. The team’s Vice President of Individual Events, Brittny Johnson, competed in Impromptu Speaking and received a 5^th place trophy in finals. She also competed in Prose Interpretation, where she earned 3^rd place.

Elyssa Klann – 1^st place Domestic Extemp (now qualified for state!)

Nhi Do – 3^rd place Novice LD Debate

Nhi Do – 2^nd place Speaker Award Novice LD Debate

Karl Schaefer – 6^th place Impromptu Speaking

November 7^th and 8^th found the Clear Brook Speech and Debate Team split into two groups as they attended tournaments both at Klein High School and Clear Lake High School. Both of these groups were highly successful, earning numerous awards and honors, as well as additional points towards Texas Forensic Association State Qualification.

At Clear Lake High School, team member Andrew Kocen competed in Foreign Extemporaneous Speaking, advancing to finals, earning a 4^th place trophy and three state points. Mohamed Al-Hendy, Extemporaneous Speaking Captain also went to finals in Foreign Extemporaneous Speaking, earning a 3^rd place trophy and four points. He also advanced to Quarter-Finals in Lincoln-Douglass Debate, which earned him 2 additional points.  He also earned the 2^nd place Lincoln Douglass Speaker Award.

At Klein
High School, team member Kelly Hogg and team Vice President Karl Schaefer in their first debate together, advanced to Quarter-Finals in Cross-Examination Debate where they both earned 2 points.  Karl Schaefer also competed in Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking and received a 4^th place trophy which earned him an additional 6 points for a total of 16 points, far exceeding the required 10 points.

 

The CBHS Debate squad selected four members of their team, Aziz Ali, John Fossum, Elyssa Klann and Karl Schaefer to compete in a national level competition known as Public Forum debate last month.  This event is hosted by the law firm Bickel & Brewer in combination with

The weekend of October 31^st  was the latest weekend where the Clear Brook Speech and Debate Team attended their latest tournament at

West side High School where they continued their reputation for success.

Team member Andrew Kocen competed in Foreign Extemporaneous Speaking and won a 6^th place trophy. This earned him his first point toward qualifying for the TFA state competition. Team member Brittny Johnson, the Vice President of Individual Events, received trophies for placing 3^rd in Prose Interpretation and 4^th in Impromptu Speaking. Vice President Karl Schaefer placed 4^th in Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking, earning him 6 points and completing the point requirement for qualifying for the TFA State tournament. This makes him the first member of the 2008-2009 Clear Brook Speech and Debate Team to qualify.

Mohamed Al-Hendy – 8^th FX

Kim Maima – 8th^th DX

Dinusha Wijesinghe – 1^st Novice CX and 3^rd place speaker award

Kelly Hogg – 1^st Novice CX and 1^st place speaker award

State Points:

Karl  Schaefer – 2 points

Mohamed Al-Hendy –  1 point

Kim Maima – 1 point

Elyssa Klann:  5^th place Impromptu Speaking and 5^th place Domestic Extemp

Kim Maima:  1^st place Original Oratory

John Fossum:  3^rd place Championship LD and 2^nd Place Speaker Award for LD

Saurabh Limaye:  2^nd place Novice LD

Those earning points toward state include:

Elyssa Klann:  2 points, Domestic Extemp

Kim Maima:  8 points, Original Oratory

John Fossum:  4 points, Championship LD