SHS Forensics Kicks Off 2010 Season

Though forensics doesn't technically begin until the spring semester, SHS students involved in the activity began locating and working on competition pieces well before the winter break and, upon returning, had to find their focus quickly, as the 2010 forensics season kicked off with a Jan. 16 trip to Syracuse. The day ended well, with T. Dillon finishing in 1st place in extemporaneous speaking and W. Miller earning a 2nd place finish in prose. Both qualified for the state championship tournament with their placings.

The team was then set to host the annual home tournament on Jan. 29, but Mother Nature had other plans, resulting in postponing the meet until Feb. 12. The next weekend, Feb. 6, a small group of students traveled to Ulysses. Though none of those attending advanced to finals, the novice students found the meet to be a valuable learning experience and became a little more comfortable with the idea of speaking in front of others.

Satanta hosted its home tournament on Friday, Feb. 12. In spite of the rescheduling and losing some of the initial entries, it wound up being a good-sized competition, with fifteen schools and approximately 160 entries ensuring that all events would be state-qualifiers. Although there were a few snags with the fire alarm system that injected a bit more excitement into the day, the tournament was a resounding success. The teams, coaches and competitors want to thank the SHS teachers and staff who served as judges for the day as well as the seniors and senior parents who provided a concession stand. Your efforts were greatly appreciated by all.

Following a weekend off, a group of dedicated forensicators hit the road early on Feb. 20 to attend the Greensburg tournament. It is one of the most competitive tournaments Satanta attends, as the students go up against some of the toughest teams in the state. Seniors S. Evans and R. Rankin rose to the occasion, with both of them qualifying for state with Rankin finishing 2nd in poetry and Evans 2nd in serious solo. S. Evans just missed double-qualifying for state, finishing in 4th place out of 33 prose entries.

The team then traveled to Hugoton on Feb. 27, where C. Shepard and P. Ungles qualified for the state tournament in Improvised Duet Acting, or IDA. They finished in 2nd place overall.

The team will be competing at several invitational tournaments over the next month or so, including Rolla on March 6, Spearville on March 9, Liberal on March 27 and South Central on April 12. There is the potential of attending another tournament or two in addition to these dates; however, no decision has been made regarding whether or not the team will be going to those tournaments at this time.

With the season sitting at about the halfway mark, students are not only preparing for the remaining tournaments but also gearing up for the Hi-Plains League tournament, which will be hosted on March 31 at Southwestern Heights this year. Though it will be a challenge, the team hopes to come home with several league champs in individual events as well as its third consecutive league team championship.