Updates in RED as of 1-10-07
Coaches need these students to clear their schedules for the District National Qualifier on February 9-10 in Spencer, Ia. This is an overnight trip which will cost you $30 plus bus fare of around $40 each. We may be able to lower the bus fare with any extra funds in the program.
You will miss most of Friday from school.
I need to have these students confirm to me ASAP they can attend in these events:
Olivia Sandbothe in FX and in OO
Liz McCabe in PF with Mirza
Billy Strong in FX and with Lillian in PF
Lillian Chesser in PF with Billy and Original Oratory
Chris Oman in PF with Taylor Karns and in FX
Taylor Karns in PF with Chris Oman and in DX
Adele Crane in PF with Amelia and in DX
Amelia Martin in PF with Adele and in DX
Catherine Chiodo in FX
Emily Schott in LD
Taylor Yocom in LD and with Tess in Duo
Tess Yocum in Duo with Taylor and in LD
Mirza Germovic in PF with Liz McCabe and in DX
Halle Hudson in Dramtic Interp and Duo with Cady Patton
Cady Patton in Duo with Halle Hudson
Susan Crane in Original Oratory and Duo with Michael Flannery
Michael Flannery in Duo with Susan Crane
Harrison Hayward and Minh Tam le in CX
Sarah Larson moved off team since she can swim that day
This proposed team does not include our Congress entries which aren't due until after this qualifier is completed. Congress Nat Quals is Feb 23rd. We currently have nine slots (6 of which are likely taken by upperclassmen either needing points or still seeking a trip to this year's tournament in Vegas).
Slots have been issued in a priority sequence protecting our best chances to qualify students to Nationals. No student has any guarantees. Some of you are novices and reasonably experienced sophomores. We have may have other more experienced underclassmen not on the team.
Do not be offended. We can only have 4 entries per division. We cannot enter the same student in both FX and DX. We can only enter a student in one debate event and one speech event or in two speech events (excluding the extemp rule).
So while I'd like to send a couple of freshmen teams in PF, we can't--taking into account the special circumstances we have to deal with in protecting Olivia and Billy our two most likely qualifiers. Those underclassmen attending will most likely get in two or three rounds before being eliminated under the NFL "Two Downs" system. A down is a debate loss or in the bottom half of a speech pool.
However, getting NFL Nat Quals experience as an underclassmen could be huge for you down the road even though you may just be "Cannon Fodder" in this year's tournament. This is a very different type of pressure and tournament. And yes, every year, our district somehow manages to send some "cannon fodder" to the national tournament over far more deserving students.
Our qualifier is known for its upsets....especially when held in NW Iowa. Just pray that the upsets don't include our most likely qualifiers.
Note: There is a chance of two more slots if we can get to 140 degrees before the qualifier. It will be a close call. If so, we would have to fill those slots in Duo, DI, OO or CX. Otherwise we have maxed out our entry. Also note you get more points per round at the qualifier than in a regular round. A win is worth 8 points and a loss 4 points. For those maxed in certain areas or in total (Billy) you keep your district points in addition to your maxed out points so these points really matter to some of you.
