Speech and Debate Team
Overview
The RRCA High School Speech and Debate Team was formed in 2008-2009 to provide a venue for students to compete in forensics competitions. The speech and debate tournament events that students compete in include speaking, reading, acting, and debate. RRCA competes in public and private school invitational tournaments from September onward in preparation for district and state competition for TAPPS and the NFL. RRCA has active membership in the National Forensic League, the speech and debate honor society for public and private schools. In the fall of 2010, our school was designated with Chapter status by the organization, the highest of four rankings a school can obtain.
The Speech and Debate Team is coached by Cathleen Ferose and assisted by alumni Trent Sutton.
2016-2017 Highlights
Academic All American
The National Speech and Debate Association recently recognized RRCA seniors Sarah Koshy and Cole Sutton with the title of Academic All American. This award is granted to students who have demonstrated both academic and competition excellence.
Celtic Invitational, January 28, 2017
Congratulations to students in 4th-9th grade who competed at the Celtic Invitational Speech & Debate tournament. RRCA won 1st place Sweepstakes against 13 other schools.
Tournament Results:
Solo Acting: 4th place - Danny Tomlin, 1st place - Morgan Whitley
Impromptu Speaking: 4th place - Christian Gonzales, 1st place - Matthew Tweden
Poetry: 4th place - Douglas Chaiken, 3rd place - Morgan Whitley, 2nd place - Alex Chaiken
Prose: 5th place - Alex Chaiken, 3rd place - Caleb Roark, 1st place - Sophia Fernandez
6th/7th grade Prose: 4th place - Douglas Chaiken, 2nd place - Kiera Dixon, 1st place - Sarah Benitz
4th/5th grade Prose: 6th place - Rachel Millikan, 1st place - Mahlet Messay
Duet Acting: 2nd place: Livie Russell/Morgan Whitley
Oratory: 6th place - Rebecca Rasmussen, 4th place - Sophia Fernandez
Storytelling: 6th place - Douglas Chaiken, 4th place - Caleb Roark, 3rd place - Alex Chaiken, 2nd place - Sarah Benitz
Bible Interpretation: 6th place - Caleb Roark, 5th place - Douglas Chaiken, 4th place - Morgan Whitley, 1st place - Alex Chaiken
Lincoln Douglas Debate: 5th place - Rebecca Rasmussen, 4th place - Christian Gonzales, 2nd place - Sophia Fernandez, 1st place - Matthew Tweden
Group Improv: 6th place - team of Alex Chaiken, Douglas Chaiken, Sarah Benitz, 3rd place - team of Morgan Whitley, Christian Gonzales, Caleb Roark
Record Mime: 5th place - team of Alex Chaiken, Douglas Chaiken, Sarah Benitz, 1st place - team of Morgan Whitley and Caleb Roark.
In addition to winning Sweepstakes, we had three students recognized with "Best of" Awards -
Best Reader - Alex Chaiken
Best Speaker - Matthew Tweden
Best Actor - Morgan Whitley
El Campo Invitational, January 13-14, 2017
Crusaders Speech & Debate sweeps the competition at El Campo Invitational. Here are the tournament results -
Bible Reading: 3rd place - Alex Chaiken, 2nd place - Cole Sutton, 1st place - Livie Russell
Novice Extemp: 6th place - Christian Gonzales
Senior Extemp: 6th place - Sarah Koshy
Novice Prose: 9th place - Caleb Roark, 7th place - Alex Chaiken, 5th place - Hannah Feldman, 2nd place - Christian Gonzales, 1st place - David Withey
Senior Prose: 4th place - Livie Russell, 1st place - Cole Sutton
Novice Poetry: 6th place - Charity Alexander, 5th place - Caleb Roark, 3rd place - Hannah Feldman, 2nd place - Christian Orred, 1st place - Alex Chaiken
Senior Poetry: 2nd place - Cole Sutton
LD Novice Debate: Quarterfinalist - Charity Alexander, Semi-finalist - Sophia Fernandez,
Co-champs - Christian Gonzales and Jenna Kim
LD Senior Debate: Quarterfinalist - Perry Williams, 1st Place - Sarah Koshy
Storytelling: 6th place - Alex Chaiken, 5th place - Livie Russell, 4th place - Anna Jacks, 3rd place - Caleb Roark, 1st place - Cole Sutton
Soapbox Speaking: 5th place - Sarah Koshy
Duo Interpretation: 1st place - team of Anna Jacks and Cole Sutton
Dramatic Interpretation: 4th place - Hannah Feldman, 1st place - Livie Russell
Humorous Interpretation: 3rd place - Andy Cato, 2nd place - Cole Sutton
Program of Oral Interpretation: 2nd place - Anna Jacks, 1st place - Cole Sutton
Oratory: 6th place - Perry Williams, 3rd place - Sarah Koshy
Auditioning: 2nd place - Livie Russell, 1st place - Cole Sutton
Record Mime: 1st place - team of Andy Cato, Cole Sutton, Anna Jacks, Livie Russell, and David Withey
Group Improv: 2nd place - team of David Withey, Livie Russell, Anna Jacks, and Caleb Roark
Readers Theater:
5th place - team of Sophia Fernandez, Alex Chaiken, Sarah Koshy, Charity Alexander, and Hannah Feldman
3rd place - team of Christian Gonzales, Caleb Roark, and Cole Sutton
2nd place - team of David Withey, Andy Cato, Christian Orred, and Sarah Koshy
1st place - team of Cole Sutton, Livie Russell, and Anna Jacks
Best of Awards:
Best Actor - Livie Russell
Best Reader - Anna Jacks
Best Novice - Christian Gonzales
Best All Around - Cole Sutton
Bay City Tournament December 2-3, 2016
Congratulations to Crusader Speech & Debate for winning Sweepstakes at the Lee Polk Invitational at Bay City HS over the weekend. Congrats to Cole Sutton for being named Best All Around competitor.
Tournament Results
Senior Poetry: 6th place - Livie Russell, 3rd place - Cole Sutton
Novice Poetry: 6th place - Christian Orred, 3rd place - Hannah Feldman
Dramatic Interpretation: 8th place - Livie Russell
International Extemp: 2nd place - Sarah Koshy
Humorous Interpretation: 4th place - Cole Sutton, 3rd place - Morgan Whitley
Senior Prose: 5th place - Emily Fenwick, 2nd place - Livie Russell
Novice Prose: 5th place - Hannah Feldman, 4th place - Morgan Whitley, 2nd place - Chris Gonzales,.1st place - Caleb Roark
Music Interpretation: team of Emily Fenwick/Anna Jacks - 4th place
Lincoln Douglas Debate: Quarterfinalist - Esteban Casterena, Semifinalist - Sophia Fernandez and Sarah Koshy, 2nd place - Christian Orred
Duet Acting: 1st place - team of Livie Russell/Emily Fenwick
Duo Interpretation: 4th place - team of Livie Russell/Morgan Whitley, 3rd place - team of Cole Sutton/Anna Jacks
Storytelling: 2nd place - Anna Jacks, 1st place - Cole Sutton
Record Mime: 3rd place - team of Caleb Roark/Morgan Whitley, 1st place - team of Anna Jacks, Cole Sutton, Andy Cato, Diana Perez, David Withey
Friday Storytelling: 6th place - Caleb Roark, 4th place - Livie Russell, 2nd place - Alex Chaiken, 1st place - Cole Sutton
Friday Solo: 5th place - Anna Jacks, 4th place - Hannah Feldman, 1st place - Cole Sutton
Program of Oral Interpretation: 7th place - Anna Jacks, 1st place - Cole Sutton
Auditioning: 1st place - Cole Sutton
Senior Impromptu: 4th place - Cole Sutton
TV Commercials: 4th place - Christian Gonzales
Reader's Theater: 4th place - team of Andy Cato, Christian Orred, David Withey, Sarah Koshy, 3rd place - team of Sophia Fernandez, Charity Alexander, Diana Perez, Hannah Feldman, Andy Cato, 2nd place - team of Christian Gonzales, Caleb Roark, Morgan Whitley, 1st place - team of Cole Sutton, Anna Jacks, Livie Russell, Emily Fenwick
Cedar Ridge Classic, November 12, 2016
Congratulations to the Speech & Debate team for their success at the Cedar Ridge Classic, against 20 public schools:
Prose Interpretation: 6th place - Emily Fenwick, 1st place - Cole Sutton
Novice Prose: 6th place - Allie Cermak, 5th place - Caleb Roark, 4th place - David Withey
Poetry Interpretation: 6th place - Livie Russell
Novice Poetry: 3rd place - Alex Chaiken, 2nd place - Allie Cermak
Humorous Interpretation: 3rd place - Cole Sutton
Duet Acting: 6th place - team of Emily Fenwick/Livie Russell
Duo Interpretation: 6th place - team of Morgan Whitley/Allie Cermak, 5th place - team of Cole Sutton/Anna Jacks.
Trinity Classic, October 22, 2016
Congratulations to the Speech & Debate team for their Sweepstakes win over the weekend. A shout out to Cole Sutton for being named Best All Around competitor and for Anna Jacks being named Best Actor of the tournament. Here are the results:
Bible Reading: 6th place - Emily Fenwick, 5th place - Hannah Feldman, 3rd place - Anna Jacks, 2nd place - Andy Cato, and 1st place - Cole Sutton
Impromptu Speaking: 4th place - David Withey, 2nd place - Andy Cato, 1st place - Cole Sutton
Poetry: 8th place - Allie Cermak, 6th place - Alex Chaiken, 5th place - Hannah Feldman, 4th place Anna Jacks, 2nd place - Cole Sutton
Prose: 5th place - Emily Fenwick, 3rd place - Caleb Roark, 1st place - Cole Sutton
Soapbox Speaking: 6th place - Sarah Koshy, 4th place - Cole Sutton
Improv: 3rd place - team of David Withey/Anna Jacks, 2nd place - team of Morgan Whitley/Caleb Roark, 1st place - team of Anna Jacks/Morgan Whitley
Oratory: 4th place - Sophia Fernandez, 3rd place - Perry Williams, 1st place - Sarah Koshy
Duo: 4th place - team of Anna Jacks/Cole Sutton, 2nd place - team of Morgan Whitley/Allie Cermak
Lincoln Douglas Debate: Quarterfinalists - Perry Williams, Christian Gonzales, and Sophia Fernandez, Semifinalist - Sarah Koshy
Solo Acting: 7th place - Anna Jacks, 6th place - Andy Cato, 5th place - Hannah Feldman, 2nd place - Morgan Whitley, 1st place - Cole Sutton
Journey Tournament, September 24, 2016
Crusader Speech & Debate won Sweepstakes against 10 other schools at the Journey Tournament in Temple on Saturday, including: Academy ISD, Burnet HS, CTCS, China Springs HS, College Station HS, Hillsboro HS, Holy Trinity Catholic HS, Lake Belton MS, New Braunfels HS, and St. Dominic Savio Catholic HS. There were 13 events. These are the results:
Lincoln Douglas Debate: 6th place - Perry William, 1st place and Top Speaker - Sarah Koshy
Public Forum Debate: 3rd place - team of Andy Cato/Esteban Castorena, 2nd place - team of Cole Sutton/Christian Orred
Humorous Interpretation: 6th place - Morgan Whitley, 4th place - Andy Cato, 2nd place - Cole Sutton
Dramatic Interpretation: 3rd place - Hannah Feldman, 1st place - Livie Russell
Duo Interpretation: 6th place - team of Livie Russell/Anna Jacks, 2nd place - team of Cole Sutton/Anna Jacks, 1st place- team of Morgan Whitley/Allie Cermak
Oratory: 3rd place - Sophia Fernandez, 2nd place - Sarah Koshy, 1st place - Perry Williams
Prose: 5th place - Andy Cato, 4th place - Livie Russell, 2nd place - David Withey, 1st place - Cole Sutton
Poetry: 6th place - Hannah Feldman, 3rd place - Anna Jacks, 2nd place - Cole Sutton
Informative Extemporaneous Speaking: 6th place - Jenna Kim, 5th place - Christian Gonzales
Persuasive Extemporaneous Speaking: 2nd place - Christian Orred, 1st place - Sarah Koshy
Hurricane Debate Tournament, September 10, 2016
The Crusaders Speech and Debate team competed at the Hurricane Debate Tournament in Temple at Holy Trinity Catholic HS. It was a small tournament with 5 events and 7 schools competing, including: Stone Gate Christian, Grapevine Christian, New Braunfels HS, St. Mary's Catholic School, Holy Trinity Catholic HS, Vanguard Prep, and RRCA. Here are the results:
Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate:
4th place - Jenna Kim, 3rd place - Sophia Fernandez, 2nd place - Christian Gonzales
Varsity Lincoln Douglas Debate:
The following students also qualified for the NDTA State Tournament in Lincoln Douglas Debate
5th place - Perry Williams, 3rd place - Sarah Koshy
Impromptu Speaking:
4th place - Andy Cato, 3rd place - Allie Cermak, 1st place - Cole Sutton
Extemporaneous Debate: (all competitors listed had a 3-0 record)
6th place (tie) - Cole Sutton and Perry Williams, 4th place - Morgan Whitley, 1st place - Sarah Koshy
Public Forum Debate:
6th place - Team of Anna Jacks/Emily Fenwick, (the following had a 4-0 record) 4th place - Team of Christian Orred/Christian Gonzales, 2nd place - Team of Andy Cato/Esteban Casterena, 1st place - Team of Cole Sutton/Sarah Koshy.
2015-2016 Highlights
ACSI Central Texas Elementary Speech Meet, April 15, 2016
TAPPS Academic and Speech Tournament, April 4-5, 2016
Congratulations to students competing at the TAPPS Academic & Speech tournament for repeating as overall State Champions and three times being named speech champions in 3A.
Here are the results:
Spanish: 2nd Place - Christian Varela
Current Events: 6th place – Sarah Koshy, 4th place – Phillip Pergande
Calculator: 5th place – Haley Nelson, 3rd place – Phillip Pergande
Advanced Math: 4th place – Haley Nelson
Prose Interpretation: 3rd place – Cole Sutton
Solo Acting: 3rd place – Aria Flores, 2nd place – Cole Sutton
Duet Acting: 3rd place – Abby Counts/Livie Russell, 1st place – Aria Flores/Cole Sutton
Poetry Interpretation: 4th place – Cole Sutton, 2nd place – Aria Flores
Persuasive Speaking: 2nd place – Sarah Koshy, 1st – Phillip Pergande
Oratory: 1st place - Madeline Tweden
Lincoln Douglas Debate: 1st place tie – Phillip Pergande and Sarah Koshy
Celtic Invitational Speech Tournament, January 30, 2016
Congratulations to the competitors at the Celtic Invitational Speech Tournament on Saturday.
The team took 2nd place overall against 15 other teams.
Here are the results:
Solo Acting: 1st place Allie Cermak
Oratory: 6th place Matthew Tweden, 3rd place Perry Williams
Storytelling: 5th place Alex Chaiken
Prose: 5th place Allie Cermak
Poetry: 6th place Sophia Fernandez
LD Debate: 3rd place: Perry Williams, 2nd place: Rebecca Rasmussen, and 1st place: Matthew Tweden
6th/7th grade Poetry: 1st place: Douglas Chaiken
Record Mime: 6th place: team of Livie Russell, Adrian Varela, and Caleb Roark
Impromptu Speaking: 8th place: Perry Williams, 4th place: Matthew Tweden
Bible Reading: 5th place: Perry Williams, 2nd place: Danny Tomlin, 1st place: Allie Cermak
El Campo Speech and Debate Invitational January 15-16, 2016
Speech & Debate team won Sweepstakes!
Bible Interpretation: 6th place – Diana Perez, 5th place – Livie Russell, 4th place – Andy Cato 3rd place - Abby Counts, 2nd place – Aria Flores, 1st place – Cole Sutton
Novice Prose: 5th place – Livie Russell
Senior Prose: 5th place – Cole Sutton, 3rd place – Abby Counts
Novice Poetry: 1st place – Livie Russell
Senior Poetry: 1st place – Cole Sutton
Storytelling: 8th place – Abby Counts, 3rd place – Aria Flores, 1st place – Cole Sutton
Duet Acting: 2nd place – team of Aria Flores/Cole Sutton, 1st place – team of Abby Counts/Livie Russell
Humorous Interpretation: 7th place – Anna Jacks, 4th place – Andy Cato, 2nd place – Aria Flores, 1st place – Cole Sutton
Auditioning: 5th - Aria Flores, 2nd place - Cole Sutton
Record Mime: 4th place – team of Abby Counts, Christian Orred, Esteban Castorena, and Andy Cato, 2nd place – team of Cole Sutton, Livie Russell, Aria Flores, and Anna Jacks
Readers Theater: 3rd place – team of Livie Russell, Haley Nelson, Sarah Koshy, Christian Orred, and Diana Perez, 2nd place – team of Madeline Tweden, Phillip Pergande, Abby Counts, and Andy Cato, 1st place – team of Aria Flores, Cole Sutton, and Anna Jacks
Soapbox Speaking: 4th place – Sarah Koshy
Oratory: 6th place – Haley Nelson, 2nd place – Madeline Tweden
Novice Extemp: 4th place – Perry Williams
Senior Extemp: 6th place – Sarah Koshy, 2nd place – Phillip Pergande
Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate: 2nd place – Madeline Tweden
Varsity Lincoln Douglas Debate: 5th place – Sarah Koshy, 3rd place – Haley Nelson, 1st place – Phillip Pergande
Best Reader: Aria Flores
Best All Around: Cole Sutton
Hurricane Debate Tournament, Saturday, September 12, 2015
RRCA competed against Holy Trinity Catholic High School, Grapevine Christian, Lake Belton, Vanguard College Prep, and CTCS at the Hurrican Debate Tournamet. Here are the results:
Varsity Lincoln Douglas Debate: 3rd place - Phillip Pergande, 1st place and Top Speaker - Sarah Koshy
Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate: 1st place and Top Speaker - Cole Sutton
Public Forum Debate: 5th place - team of Esteban Casterena/Cole Sutton, 3rd place - team of Sarah Koshy/Phillip Pergande, 1st place - team of Haley Nelson/Madeline Tweden. Top Speaker: Phillip Pergande
Extemporaneous Debate: 3rd place - Cole Sutton, 2nd place - Sarah Koshy
Impromptu Speaking: 6th place - Cole Sutton, 5th place - Aria Flores, 1st place - Phillip Pergande
2014-2015 Highlights
Celtic Invitational Speech & Debate tournament, Saturday, January 31, 2015
Congratulations to elementary, middle, and high school competitors. RRCA was 2nd in team sweepstakes against 13 other schools.
Here are the results:
4th/5th grade Storytelling: 3rd place – Douglas Chaiken
Storytelling: 4th place – Alex Chaiken, 1st place – Sophie Berg
Lincoln Douglas debate: Semifinalists and tying for 3rd place - Sophie Fernandez and Christian Gonzales
Record Mime: team of Sophie Berg and Anna Jacks – 2nd place
Soapbox Speaking: 5th place – Christian Gonzales
Poetry: 4th place – Sophie Berg, 1st place – Allie Cermak
4th/5th grade Prose: 5th place – Sarah Benitz
6th/7th grade Prose: 2nd place Allie Cermak
Bible Reading: 6th place - Anna Jacks, 4th place – Sophie Berg, and 1st place – Allie Cermak
Duet Acting: 3rd place Sophie Berg/Anna Jacks
Solo Acting: 1st place Sophie Berg
In addition, two RRCA competitors were recognized as top competitors -
Best Reader: Allie Cermak
Best Actor: Sophie Berg
A special thank you to the many members of the high school team who served at this tournament.
El Campo HS Invitational Results, January 16-17, 2015
RRCA competed against 21 other teams, 20 of them public schools. RRCA took first in Sweepstakes. Here are the results:
Oratory: Katelyn Leistico - 1st place
Varsity Extemporaneous Speaking: Cayden Orred - 4th place, Phillip Pergande - 3rd place
Novice Extemporaneous Speaking: Sarah Koshy - 1st place
Impromptu Speaking: Zoe Zapatero - 3rd place, Cayden Orred - 2nd place, Phillip Pergande - 1st place
Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate: Esteban Casterena - Quarterfinalist
Varsity Lincoln Douglas Debate: Katelyn Leistico and Sarah Koshy - Quarterfinalists, Phillip Pergande - Semifinalist
Soapbox speaking: Phillip Pergande - 7th place, Christian Orred - 5th place, Haley Nelson - 4th place
Reader's Theater: Team of Andy Cato, Sophie Berg, Christian Orred, Emily Fenwick, and Katelyn Leistico - 5th place. Team of Anna Jacks, Cayden Orred, Phillip Pergande, Zoe Zapatero, and Chad Crosby - 4th place. Team of Anne Marie Berg, Cole Sutton, Ben Roark, and Aria Flores - 1st place
Duet Acting: Cole Sutton/Ben Roark - 4th place, Anne Marie Berg/Aria Flores - 1st place
Group Improv: Ben Roark/Aria Flores/Cayden Orred - 3rd place
Bible Reading: Aria Flores - 5th place, Emily Fenwick - 4th place, Ben Roark - 3rd place, Cole Sutton - 2nd place, and Anne Marie Berg - 1st place
Auditioning: Anne Marie Berg - 4th place, Aria Flores - 2nd place, Cole Sutton - 1st place
Record Mime: team of Chad Crosby, Cole Sutton, Ben Roark, and Cayden Orred - 3rd place
Humorous Interpretation: Andy Cato - 6th place, Sophie Berg - 3rd place, Ben Roark - 2nd place
Dramatic Interpretation: Cole Sutton - 4th place, Anne Marie Berg - 3rd place
Novice Prose Interpretation: Anna Jacks - 6th place, Chad Crosby - 4th place
Senior Prose Interpretation: Ben Roark - 6th place, Cole Sutton - 3rd place
Novice Poetry Interpretation: Emily Fenwick - 4th place, Chad Crosby - 2nd place, Sophie Berg - 1st place
Senior Poetry Interpretation: Aria Flores - 2nd place, Ben Roark - 1st place
Storytelling: Cole Sutton - 4th place, Anne Marie Berg - 3rd place, Sophie Berg - 2nd place, and Ben Roark - 1st place.
Best Reader: Ben Roark, Top Speaker: Phillip Pergande, and Best All Around Performer: Ben Roark.
Saturday, September 27 - Congratulations to the high school Speech and debate team for their Sweepstakes win at the Journey Tourney in Temple. Here are results:
Humorous Interpretation: 4th place Andy Cato, 2nd place Abby Counts, and 1st place Sophia Berg
Dramatic Interpretation: 3rd place Abby Counts, 2nd place Anne Marie Berg, and 1st place Cole Sutton
Duo interpretation: 4th place team of Zoe Zapatero and Emily Fenwick, 3rd place team of Sophia Berg and Anna Jacks, and tied for first place - teams of Ben Roark and Cole Sutton, and Anne Marie Berg and Aria Flores
Oratory Speaking: 6th place Madeline Tweden, 3rd place Katelyn Leistico, and 2nd place Haley Nelson
Prose Interpretation: 6th place Aria Flores, 5th place Zoe Zapatero, 4th place Cole Sutton, 2nd place Anne Marie Berg, and 1st place Ben Roark
Poetry Interpretation: 5th place Aria Flores, 4th place Sophia Berg, 3rd place Ben Roark, 2nd place Anne Marie Berg, and 1st place Cole Sutton
Extemporaneous Speaking: 5th place Sarah Koshy, 2nd place Phillip Pergande
Public forum Debate: 2nd place team of Madeline Tweden and Haley Nelson, 1st place team of Christian Orred and Cole Sutton. Top Speaker was Cole Sutton
Lincoln Douglas Debate: 6th place Phillip Pergande, 2nd place Katelyn Leistico. Top Speaker Katelyn Leistico.
Saturday, September 6 - Crusaders kicked off the high school Speech & Debate season with wins at the Hurricane Debate tournament, which was held at Holy Trinity Catholic High School. The team has grown to 20 members, with ten returning team members, and ten new members. These are the results:
Impromptu Speaking: Phillip Pergande - 4th place, Anne Marie Berg - 3rd place
Extemporaneous Debate: Katelyn Leistico - 3rd place, Phillip Pergande 1st place
Public Forum Debate: Team of Haley Nelson/Madeline Tweden - 6th place, Team of Cole Sutton/Christian Orred - 3rd place, and team of Katelyn Leistico/Phillip Pergande - 1st place. Top Speaker in Public Forum Debate was Haley Nelson
Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate: Christian Orred - 6th place
Varsity Lincoln Douglas Debate: Sarah Koshy - 5th place, Katelyn Leistico - 2nd place, and Phillip Pergande - 1st place
Crusader standouts: Phillip Pergande for three debate 1st places and for newcomer Haley Nelson being named Top Speaker in Public Forum Debate.
2013-2014 Highlights
State Debate - May 22, 2014
Regional debate champion Katelyn Leistico had an uphill climb to the state championship. Ranked seventh out of eight debaters going into the elimination rounds, Leistico had a stunning come from behind victory to be named the TAPPS Lincoln Douglas Debate State Champion. Debating a total of seven rounds, she won decisively in the final round, receiving the winning ballot from all three judges on the panel.
This win is particularly sweet to Debate Coach Cathleen Ferose who notes that her debaters have come close a couple of times, but this is the first state championship in debate for RRCA. “Winning a state championship in debate basically means that you are debating rounds the entire day. We started rounds at 9:30 and the final round was over at around 7 pm.”
The Crusader Forensic Team placed 2nd the Celtic Invitational on Saturday, January 25. Students in 4th-9th grade competed at this tournament, along with students from 15 private schools. Here are the results:
In Lincoln Douglas Debate: 1st place Christian Orred
Soapbox Speaking: 1st place Cole Sutton
Impromptu Speaking: 4th place Christian Orred
Bible Interpretation: 1st place Cole Sutton, 2nd place Allie Cermak, 4th place Andy Cato,
4th/5th grade Poetry: 2nd place Douglas Chaiken, 5th place Ethan Anderson
6th/7th grade Poetry: 1st place Allie Cermak, 6th place Alex Chaiken,
Poetry: 3rd place Cole Sutton
4th/5th grade Storytelling: 1st place Douglas Chaiken, 4th place Ethan Anderson, 5th place Daniel Tomlin
Storytelling: 2nd place Cole Sutton
Duet Acting: 3rd place Cole Sutton/Zoe Zapatero
Top Speaker in Debate: Christian Orred
Top Reader: Cole Sutton
The RRCA Forensic Team competed against 34+ schools at the Bay City High School tournament Saturday, December 6. Here are the results:
TV Commercials: 7th place Phillip Pergande
Impromptu Speaking: 6th place Zoe Zapatero
Oratory: 6th place Anne Marie Berg
Humorous Interpretation: 6th place Anne Marie Berg
Readers Theater: 3rd Place - Team of Anne Marie Berg, Katelyn Leistico, Cole Sutton, Aria Flores & Christian Orred / 6th place - Team of Ben Roark, Cayden Orred, Zoe Zapatero, Ashley Charles & Andy Cato
Prose Interpretation: 3rd place, Cole Sutton
Storytelling: 3rd place Anne Marie Berg 3rd place, 6th place Ben Roark
Extemporaneous Speaking: 3rd place Phillip Pergande
Lincoln Douglas Debate: Semifinalist and 3rd place Phillip Pergande
Our Forensics Team traveled to El Campo Saturday, January 17, 2014 and placed 2nd in large school sweepstakes out of 23 schools.
Bible Reading: 1st place Benjamin Roark; 2nd place Anne Marie Berg; 4th place Cole Sutton; 6th place Aria Flores
Lincoln Douglas Debate: Quarterfinalist in Novice - Christian Orred and Zoe Zapatero; Semifinalist - Cayden Orred
Extemporaneous Speaking: in Novice - 5th place Cayden Orred; in Varsity - 3rd place Phillip Pergande.
Poetry: Novice 1st place Cole Sutton
Group Improv: 4th place team of Benjamin Roark, Cayden Orred, and Aria Flores
Impromptu Speaking: 3rd place Benjamin Roark, 5th place Phillip Pergande, 6th place Cole Sutton
Humorous Interpretation: 3rd place Benjamin Roark; 6th place Ashley Charles
Oratory: 3rd place Anne Marie Berg
Soapbox Speaking: 1st place Benjamin Roark
Storytelling: 5th place Benjamin Roark
Duet Acting: 1st place Anne Marie Berg/Aria Flores; 4th place Cole Sutton/Zoe Zapatero
Readers Theater: 1st place Team of Anne Marie Berg, Cole Sutton, Phillip Pergande, Christian Orred and Aria Flores; 2nd place Team of Benjamin Roark, Ashley Charles, Cayden Orred, Zoe Zapatero, and Andy Cato.
Best Speaker of the tournament: Benjamin Roark
Best Reader of the tournament: Cole Sutton
Congratulations to the Forensics team for their 1st Place Sweepstakes at the Trinity Classic in a field of 13 public and private schools on Saturday, November 2.
Extemporaneous Speaking: 1st place Phillip Pergand, 2nd place Cayden Orred, 5th place Bryce Sells
Prose: 3rd place Anne Marie Berg, 4th place Aria Flores, 6th place Ashley Charles
Poetry: 3rd place Anne Marie Berg, 4th place Cole Sutton, 5th place Ben Roark
Duet Acting: 1st place Anne Marie Berg/Aria Flores, 5th place Cole Sutton/Zoe Zapatero
Bible Reading: 1st place Cole Sutton, 2nd place Aria Flores, 3rd place Zoe Zapatero
Oratory: 3rd place Anne Marie Berg, 4th place Katelyn Leistico
Soapbox Speaking: 1st place Cole Sutton
Duo Improv: 3rd place Cayden Orred/Ben Roark
Solo Acting: 4th place Ben Roark, 5th place Anne Marie Berg
Lincoln Douglas Debate: 3rd place Katelyn Leistico, 5th place Phillip Pergande
Impromptu Speaking: 1st place Ben Roark, 2nd place Anne Marie Berg, 3rd place Phillip Pergande, 5th place Katelyn Leistico, 6th place Christian Orred
Best Speaker of the Tournament: Cole Sutton
Best All Around Performer: Anne Marie Berg
On Saturday, October 19 the Forensic Team competed againist 25 high schools from the greater Lake Austin area at the Lake Travis High School Speech and Debate Tournament. Here are the results:
Prose Interpretation - 2nd place Aria Flores
Poetry Interpretation - 4th place Zoe Zapatero
Congratulations to the Forensic team for taking 1st place Sweepstakes at their tournament on Saturday, September 28 out of a field of 12 schools.
Here are the results:
Lincoln Douglas Debate - 1st place Phillip Pergande
Public Forum Debate - 1st place Cole Sutton/Christian Orred; 4th place Anne Marie Berg/Katelyn Leistico; Top Speaker: Cole Sutton
Extemporaneous Speaking - 1st place Phillip Pergande
Oratory - 2nd place Katelyn Leistico
Poetry Interpretation - 1st place Cole Sutton, 3rd place Zoe Zapatero, 5th place Anne Marie Berg, 6th place Aria Flores
Prose Interpretation - 1st place Cole Sutton, 3rd place Aria Flores, 4th place Anne Marie Berg
Humorous Interpretation - 2nd place Anne Marie Berg, 4th place Ashley Charles
The Forensics Team kicked off the 2013-2014 season with a trip to the Hurricane Invitational at Holy Trinity Catholic High School in Temple with a field of 11 public and private schools. Crusaders placed in every event of the tournament and swept finals in Impromptu Speaking. Cayden Orred and Ben Roark were named Top Speakers in their respective debate events. Here are the rest of the results:
Lincoln Douglas Varsity Debate - 3rd place Phillip Pergande, 6th place Katelyn Leistico
Lincoln Douglas Novice Debate - 5th place Cayden Orred, Top Speaker Cayden Orred
Public Forum Debate - 2nd place team of Katelyn Leistico & Phillip Pergande, 4th place team of Anne Marie Berg & Ben Roark, Top Speaker Ben Roark
Extemporaneous Debate - Tied with 3 others in an undefeated 3-0 record
Cayden Orred and Zoe Zapatero
Impromptu Speaking - 1st place Phillip Pergande, 2nd place Katelyn Leistico, 3rd place Anne Marie Berg, 4th place Ben Roark, 5th place Christian Orred