Sometimes NFL points don't tell a whole story about a team so in a few free minutes on Friday waiting for mock trial to end, I did some "looking around." I don't think this will surprise anyone but not only does it demonstrate how far Roosevelt has come, it also shows what next year might hold for Roosevelt if another sizeable freshman class comes on board.
Could TRHS become the #1 team in Iowa? The answer is: Maybe.
Only Indianola has added more NFL degrees this season (106) than TRHS (91) and Valley (89).
Dowling and Iowa City West are down to 68 new degrees. We may very well finish with 100 new degrees for the first time ever.
Dowling, Valley, Okoboji, West and others lose a tremendous # of degrees to graduation from last year's class coming off the strength ratings this next September. Only Valley appears to have replaced those degrees. Indianola and Roosevelt have far outpaced their losses.
Both Indianola and Roosevelt remain very young teams meaning degree growth is potentially significant both next season and the season thereafter.
Tim Sheaff has talked about the changing of the guard in Iowa and that the new speech and deabte wars will be Indianola-Roosevelt-Dowling-Valley and West. If you look at new degrees, Okoboji, Lincoln, East, Burlington, Davenport West, Dubuque Wahlert and many others are actually headed the wrong direction. The fall off of some of those programs is significant and will become obvious next September. DM East added just 2 degrees this season and is down to 6 students. DM Lincoln added only 27 degrees.
On May 18th we will celebrate the graduation of an interesting class of forensic seniors: Greg, Eleni, Liz, Olivia, and Billy. What they have done for this program is amazing. Coupled with last year's graduating class of Anna, Judy and Sam..here are just a few of the things that have happened:
Extemp taken to the highest levels the country by a whole group of students
Oratory qualifier
HI qualifier
PF qualifiers
Congress qualifier
Indidivdual State Championships
4-Top 5 Team Sweeps at All-Iowa Finals
LD back on track although young
CX back on track although young
Mock Trial State Qualifier
IHSSA PF Championship
National Circuit Wins for Liz, Olivia, Billy and Sam
Not only all of that--but add in 3 National Quarter finalists (FX-Poetry and Impromptu).
Plus I think we have some huge chances at Nationals this year.
Not bad for a school that resembled DM East 4 years ago with 5 active students and 19 degrees.
But our senior's biggest accomplishment was getting another 35 of so students headed down the road the right way. So, yes, it is possible that TRHS Foresncis could become the #1 team in the State and maybe sooner than we think possible. I think next year's team needs to think about a goal about being the best...it is within reach! While odds are better two years from now--I like our chances next season.
We can add 10 more degrees yet this year with Novice Nationals, Congress Quals, TOCs and Nationals. Let's make a strong effort to earn every one possible! Coach Harry
