BJA Forensic Team State 1-A Speech and Debate Champs

The Bob Jones Academy Forensic Team was named State 1-A Champions in Speech and Debate for the seventh consecutive year at the recent South Carolina Forensic Coaches Association’s Speech and Debate Championship held in North Charleston. 

The team finished third overall. After five rounds of competition against top competitors in the state, the following students advanced to elimination rounds and then on to placing the top in the state: 

Quarterfinalists:

• Callie Gieck (Simpsonville) and Richard Petersen (Greenville) in Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate
• Marina Shew (Greenville) and Micah Samuels (Piedmont) in Varsity Lincoln Douglas Debate
• Jacquelynne Perry (Greenville) and Peter Donovan (Taylors) in Public Forum Debate 

Semi Finalists:

• Michael Leung (Simpsonville) in Children’s Literature
• Leah Petterson (Greenville) and Jonathan Savoy (Greer) in Original Oratory
• Kerry Marley (Greenville) in Dramatic Interpretation
• Elliot Lovegrove (Greenville) in Impromptu Speaking
• Eliot Coss (Greenville) in Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate
• Elliott Kelley (Easley) in Varsity Lincoln Douglas Debate 

Finalists:

• 3rd place SPAR Debate – Will Christmas (Easley)
• 6th place Extemporaneous Speaking – Elliot Lovegrove (Greenville)
• 5th place Poetry Interpretation – Mary MacDonald (Greer)
• 3rd place Poetry Interpretation – Jonathan Savoy (Greer)
• 4th place Dramatic Interpretation – Nichole Martinson (Greenville)
• 2nd place Dramatic Interpretation – Helena Sullivan (Easley)
• State Champion in Dramatic Interpretation – Margaret Stegall (Greenville)
• State Champions in Duo Interpretation – Caleb Miller (Greenville) and Leah Petterson (Greenville) 

Helena Sullivan of  Easley and Margaret Stegall of Greenville qualified for the National Tournament of Champions Tournament to be held in May in San Antonio, Texas.