The NFL each season publishes an All American Watch List so candidates can see where they fall in the point race. Students who are in the Top 150 in the country in points are on the watch list. The Top 25 are named All Americans and the next 60 are named Honorable Mention All Americans. We have THREE on the list currently:
Tess Yocom 54th
Catherine Chiodo 75th
Mike Flannery 111th
Iowa has had only two All Americans in NFL history--from Burlington in 2001-2 and Roosevelt in 2008. It is ridiculously hard to become an All American--and yet it has happened!
The purpose of the All American Award is to recognize the multi dimensional students who can compete at a high level in a variety of events. That would be true of the three Roosevelt candidates this season. All have done a variety of events--even though the focus in just one or two areas. Tess, for example, has done HI, DI, OI, Duo, PF, Congress and a little LD. As a sophomore she added in an OO and has some extemp background.
We have had a number of students make the watch list since '06: Sam Fairfield, Billy Strong, Olivia Sandbothe, Chris Oman, Amelia Martin, Mirza Germovic and now three more. There were those who fell just short of the All American Watch list who contributed mightily to the program--some of those names: Judy Crane, Anna McDermott, Adele Crane, Liz McCabe, Taylor Karns, Lillian Chesser, and more.
These were all kids who started out just like our freshmen this season, afraid to speak and compete. They went from being unsure of themselves to landing themselves in high powered colleges and competing on the college circuit. This can be your legacy as well to the program.
When this season ends, another two or three students will leave Roosevelt with scholarship offers to compete in college. At our annual banquet we will celebrate their growth in the program--students who didn't think they could do it to students who know they can compete at the next level.
Some of these former students will be visiting over the Holidays--please take a moment a introduce yourself and get to know them if you can--they were the modern pioneers, the record setters, and now are the legacy of the program.
As you think about your career in Roosevelt Speech and Debate, don't be afraid to set high goals for yourself. We have a program in which a number of students have reached amazing levels-far beyond what they thought they could do. You, soon enough, will become part of the legacy of the program. What legacy do you want to leave behind?
This Christmas season, I am wishing for some new accomplishments: A state team championship, more national place winners, a NATIONAL individual champion and another Top 10 finish at the NFL National tournament (School of Excellence Award). After this first semester of successes, all of the above can happen...keep working hard...keep believing and keep doing it the Rider way! Have a GREAT break!
