The Speech and Debate team added six more national entries to its total this past weekend, at the Northeast District Qualifying Tournament in Plymouth, Indiana. The six speech entries will join the three debate and three congress entries that have already qualified. This brings the teams total to 15 students qualifying for twelve entries (some involving partners).

Qualifying in speech events this past weekend were seniors Tyler Fabbri, Syed Shah, Kira Geairn, Matt Keeley, Hayley Miller, and juniors Kara Fasone and Jessica Cleary. They will join policy debaters Jeff Tucker, Nicole Thompson, Warren Fasone and Christian Paracco, as well as congress qualifiers Luke Morgan, Adam Potrzebowski, and Mike Leopold, all of whom qualified in earlier district competition.

Tyler Fabbri had automatically qualified for domestic extemporaneous speaking because he was a finalist as an underclassman at last year’s national tournament, placing fifth in the nation. He competed in both domestic and original oratory this weekend to prepare for next week’s state finals. Had he not already accepted the automatic qualification, he would have had his choice of either domestic or original oratory, having placed in the top two in both events this weekend. This will be Fabbri’s third trip to NFL national tournament.

Also going to his third national tournament is Adam Potrzebowski. Potrzewbowski placed third in international extemporaneous speaking, but had previously qualified in the senate back in February. Potrzebowski also placed third in original oratory, an event where the team took the top four places.

Senior Matt Keeley, who will be going to his second national tournament, also qualified in two events, drama and duo. Because students can only compete in one national event, Keeley chose duo in order to compete at the national tournament with his partner, Jessica Cleary (11). Cleary will be making her first appearance at a national tournament.

Hayley Miller qualified in original oratory for her second straight year; this time with a little help from her teammates. Junior Robert Conrick, who was actually one of the top two, could not attend the national tournament due to a previous commitment. And with Fabbri, who was first but qualified in another event, and Potrzebowski, who chose the senate, bowing out, Miller qualified.

Seniors Syed Shah and Kira Geairn were first time qualifiers, Shah in international extemporaneous, and Geairn in domestic extemporaneous. They will be joined by first time qualifier junior Kara Fasone, who won in humor.

The team won the 2010 District plaque for accumulating the most rounds in district competition. However, additional recognition came to the team when senior Adam Potrzebowski was recognized as the 2010 Northeast Student of the Year. Potrzebowski has earned 1708 NFL points in his four years of forensic competition, more than any other student in the district.

“We are especially happy for our seniors. They had a great tournament and now have the national opportunity. While we always hope for more, winning six of the twelve qualifying slots is quite an accomplishment. We have a really outstanding group representing us at the national tournament this year,” said coach Bob Kelly

Coaches Kelly, Doug Pishkur, Chris Lowery and Scott Woodhouse, and assistant Kayla Fleming were joined by former students Jeff Corso, Kathryn Kattalia, Tyler DeMar, Zack Stemer and Josh McClain, as well as parent Chris Keeley, who helped with judging.

The team’s next competition will be the state finals in Indianapolis next weekend.