Academy Forensic Team
S.C. Bar's High School Mock Trial — March 12-13
Friday and Saturday, March 12 and 13, the Bob Jones Academy Junior Varsity mock trial team participated at the state level of the South Carolina Bar's High School Mock Trial competition in Columbia, SC. Competing against 11 other teams, the BJA team won the state championship. This is the sixth time that a BJA team has won the state championship since we began participating in 1990.
The following students won individual awards:
Tim Nichols — most effective witness in three rounds
Kristen Ince — most effective attorney
Jamie Noël — most effective attorney in two rounds
The BJA Junior Varsity team will now move on to participate in the National High School Mock Trial Competition to be held in Philadelphia, PA in May.
SCFCA State Speech & Debate Tournament — March 4-5
March 5-6 (Friday and Saturday) the BJA Forensics team competed at the 2010 SCFCA State Speech and Debate Tournament at Hillcrest HS in Simpsonville. The following Academy Students were declared State Champions in their respective events:
Austin Burke in Impromptu Speaking Ellis Schoolfield in Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate Micah Sherer in Varsity Lincoln-Douglas Debate
The team made State Tournament history by closing out the Novice division of debate with the top 4 debaters in semi's and finals and by closing out the final Varsity debate round with the top two debaters.
The Academy captured the Division I-A Sweepstakes for the fourth year in a row and won the Second Place Overall Sweepstakes Trophy for the third year in a row.Additional winners
Kerry Marley, semi-finalist in Storytelling
Jackie Olinger, 2nd in Oratory and fifth in Duo Interpretation with her partner, Taylor Garlock
Taylor Garlock, semi-finalist in Storytelling
Sarah Porch, 1/4-finalist in Storytelling
Benjamin Nicholas & Elena Taylor, semi-finalists in Duo Interp.
Benjamin Nicholas, semi-finalist in Prose Reading
Emma Galloway, 2nd in Poetry & Dramatic Interpretation
Katie MacDonald, 6th in Prose Reading & semi-finalist in Oratory
Mary Maloney, 5th in Prose Reading
Elena Taylor, 3rd in Prose Reading
Stephen Lovegrove, 2nd in Domestic Extemporaneous & semi-finalist in Oratory
Stephen Eastland, semi-finalist in Dramatic Interpretation
Anna Vallier, 3rd in Poetry & semi-finalist in Prose Reading
Lydia Petterson, 5th in Oratory
Margaret Stegall, Best Novice Oratory, semi-finalist in Oratory, & semi-finalist in Poetry
Jamie Wilson, semi-finalist in Humorous Interpretation
Drew Petersen, 1/4 finalist in Novice LD
John Moon, 1/4 finalist in Novice LD
Austin Burke, semi-finalist in Novice LD
Jacob Kuruvilla, semi-finalist in Novice LD
Meredith Bryson, 2nd in Novice LD & 2nd in Impromptu
Valerie Myers, semi-finalist in Varsity LD
Stephanie Niffenecker, 2nd in Varsity LD
Chase HS Speech Tournament — Feb. 27
Saturday, February 27th the Bob Jones Academy Forensic team competed at the Chase HS speech tournament in Forest City, NC. While competing against the highly successful forensic programs of Riverside, Marvin Ridge, Pinecrest, Asheville and Myers Park, the following students won first place awards:
Stephen Eastland in Dramatic Interpretation and in Storytelling
Stephen Lovegrove in Extemporaneous Speaking
Drew Petersen in Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate
Additionally the team captured the Overall First Place Sweepstakes Trophy.
The top three Novice LD'ers and the top three Storytellers were all from BJA and tied for first place. Tie-breakers had to be used to determine final placements.
Additional placements
Danae Binns, 5th place Oral Interpretation
Mary Maloney, 7th place Oral Interpretation
Sarah Porch, 8th place Oral Interpretation & 2nd in Storytelling
Kerry Marley, 9th place Oral Interpretation
Leah Petterson, 10th place Oral Interpretation
Jaimie Wilson, 5th place Humorous Interpretation
Benajmin Nicholas & Elena Taylor, 6th place Duo Interpretation
Elena Taylor, 3rd in Storytelling
Alyssa Block, 5th in Storytelling
Emma Galloway, 4th place Dramatic Interpretation
Austin Burke, 2nd place Novice LD
Jacob Kuruvilla, 3rd place Novice LD
Jessie Walker, 5th place Novice LD
Ellis Schoolfield, 7th place Novice LD
Lydia Petterson, 2nd in Oratory
Brittany Rutherford, 6th in Oratory
Stephen Lovegrove, 7th in Oratory
Meredith Bryson, 4th place Varsity LD
Will Willis, 5th place Varsity LD
Piedmont Regional of S.C. Bar's HS Mock Trial — Feb. 27
On Saturday, February 27 the Bob Jones Academy Varsity and Junior Varsity Mock Trial teams participated in the Piedmont Regional of the South Carolina Bar's High School Mock Trial Competition. Out of 13 teams from across the upstate, the BJA Junior Varsity Team finished with a 3-0 record and advanced to the state competition to be held March 12 and 13 in Columbia, SC. The following students won individual awards: Tim Nichols (most effective witness), Margaret Stegall (most effective witness in two rounds), Kristen Ince (most effective attorney in two rounds), Jamie Noel (most effective attorney), and Valerie Myers (most effective attorney).
Riverside HS Debate Tournament — Feb. 20
Saturday, February 20th, the Academy forensic team competed at the Riverside High School Debate Tournament in Greer.
The following students won first place awards:
Micah Sherer in Varsity Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Austin Burke in Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate
Benjamin Nicholas in Oral Interpretation
Jackie Olinger in Original Oratory
Jackie Olinger and Taylor Garlock in Duo Interpretation
The team captured a total of 32 awards and the overall First Place Sweepstakes Championship.
Benjamin Nicholas 2nd in Storytelling
Stephen Eastland 4th in Storytelling
Danae Binns 6th in Storytelling
Alyssa Block 10th in Storytelling
Jamie Foster 12th in Storytelling
Emma Galloway 2nd in Dramatic Interpretation
Stephen Eastland & Danielle Polhamus 2nd in Duo Interpretation
Alyssa Block & Ryan Kappel 4th in Duo Interpretation
Will Jana & Sarah Porch 8th in Duo Interpretation
Cam Lawson & Kristie Skaggs 11th in Duo Interpretation
Daniel Perez 3rd in Humorous Interpretation
Danielle Polhamus & Sarah Porch 3rd in Impromptu Duet Acting
Emma Galloway & Daniel Perez 4th in Impromptu Duet Acting
Will Jana & Ryan Kappel 6th in Impromptu Duet Acting
Anna Vallier 3rd in Oral Interpretation & 6th in Novice Reading
Katie MacDonald 2nd in Oratory & 3rd in Novice Reading
Lydia Petterson 5th in Oratory
Jamie Foster & Brittany Rutherford tied for 6th place in Oratory
Taylor Garlock 7th in Novice Reading
Kerry Marley 9th in Novice Reading
Leah Petterson 11th in Novice Reading
Drew Petersen 3rd in Novice LD
Caleb McQuaid 5th in Novice LD
Ellis Schoolfield 6th in Novice LD
Robert Ryggs 10th in Novice LD
Jacob Kuruvilla 11th in Novice LD
Meredith Bryson 2nd in Varsity LD
Stefanie Niffenecker 4th in Varsity LD
Southside HS Debate Tournament — Feb. 6
Saturday, February 6th the Academy forensic team competed at the Southside High School Debate Tournament. Senior Stephanie Nifenecker won first place in Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate and first place speaker in Novice Lincoln Douglas debate and Freshman Kerry Marley tied for 1st place in Novice Reading.
The following students were named top novice competitors:
Elena Taylor in Storytelling
Katie McDonald in Oratory
Ethan Ballentine in Extemporaneous Speaking
Additionally the team captured 18 other awards including the Overall Percentage Sweepstakes Award.
Additional Placements
Benjamin Nicholas: 4th In Duo Interp, 8th Place Storytelling, & 8th in Oral Interp
Elena Taylor: 4th in Duo Interp, 7th in Oral Interp & 4th in Storytelling
Sarah Porch: 7th Place Storytelling
Jackie Olinger: 5th in Duo Interp, 9th place Storytelling & 7th in Oratory
Taylor Garlock: 5th in Duo Interp & 4th in Novice Reading
Stephen Lovegrove: 3rd in Extemp, 3rd in Oratory & 8th in Impromptu
Ethan Ballentine: 6th in Extemp
Anna Vallier: 5th in Novice Reading & 5th in Oral Interp
Jessie Walker: 6th in Novice LD and 4th place Novice LD Speaker
Emma Galloway: 3rd place in Dramatic Interp.
Micah Sherer: 6th place VLD Speaker
Margaret Stegall 12th in Novice Reading & 13th in Oratory
Danae Binns 12th in Storytelling
Alyssa Block 16th in Storytelling
Jamie Wilson tied for 7th in Humorous Interp.
Katie MacDonald 9th in Oratory & 7th in Novice Reading
Brittany Rutherford 11th in Oratory
Micah Sherer 8th in Varsity LD
Laird Lewis Invitational — Jan. 8
Competing against 50 schools from 20 states, the following academy students made it out of preliminary rounds and were recognized at the 37th annual Laird Lewis Invitational in Charlotte, NC during Christmas break.
Stephen Eastland — DI semifinalist
Emma Galloway — DI semifinalist
Stephen Lovegrove — OO semifinalist, 4th Place Impromptu
Benjamin Nicholas — OI semifinalist, DUO semi-finalist
Elena Taylor — DUO semifinalist
Stefanie Nifenecker— Radio Semifinalist
Jackie Olinger — OI quarterfinalist, OO5th place, Duo semifinalist
Leah petterson — OI quarterfinalist
Lydia Petterson — OO semifinalist
Sarah Porch— OI semifinalist
Maragaret Stegall— OO semifinalist
Anna Vallier — OI quarterfinalist
Drew Petersen — NLD quarterfinalist
Micah Sherer— 2nd Place NLD
Stephen Eastland — NLD octofinalist
Jacob Kuruvilla — NLD octofinalist
Will Willis — NLD octofinalist
Hillcrest HS Debate Tournament — Dec. 5
Saturday, December 5th, the Bob Jones Academy Debate Team competed at the Hillcrest HS Debate tournament against 14 schools from North & South Carolina. The team won a school record 31 trophies and took home the Overall Champion Sweepstakes trophy. The following Academy students won first place awards:
Stephen Lovegrove in Impromptu Speaking
Kerry Marley in Novice Reading
Jackie Olinger & Taylor Garlock in Duo Interpretation
Danielle Polhamous & Sarah Porch in Impromptu Duet Acting
Drew Petersen & Stefanie Nifenecker tied for first place in Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate
Additional Winners
Meredith Bryson 3rd in Novice LD
Jessie Walker 6th in Novice LD
Jamie Wilson 8th in Novice LD
Sam Worley 11th in Novice LD
Will Willis 12th in Novice LD
Stephen Lovegrove & Valerie Adams 6th in Public Forum
Emma Galloway 2nd in Dramatic Interpretation
Jackie Olinger 2nd in Storytelling
Stephen Eastland 3rd in Storytelling
Elena Taylor 4th in Storytelling
Alyssa Block 5th in Storytelling
Daniel Perez 7th in Humorous Interpretation
Benjamin Nicholas/Elena Taylor 3rd in Duo Interpretation
Will Jana/Sarah Porch 5th in Duo Interpretation
Stephen Eastland/Danielle Polhamus 6th in Duo Interpretation
Cam Lawson/Kristie Skaggs 9th in Duo Interp
Lydia Petterson 4th in Oratory
Maragaret Stegall 7th in Oratory 9th in Prose
Anna Vallier 10th in Novice Reading
Brittany Rutherford 9th in Oratory
Taylor Garlock 3rd in Novice Reading
Elenea Taylor/Stephen Eastland 5th Place in Impromptu Duet
Daniel Perez/Will Jana 6th place in Impromptu Duet
Benjamin Ncholas 3rd Place Prose & 7th Place Storytelling
Mary Maloney 7th Place Prose
Asheville HS Cougar Classic Invitational — Nov. 21
On Saturday November 21 the Academy Speech and Debate team competed against 30 schools from North and South Carolina in the Asheville High School Cougar Classic Invitational. The following students won top awards:
First Place Dramatic Interpretation — Emma Galloway
Second Place Storytelling — Benjamin Nicholas
First Place Storytelling — Stephen Eastland
Second Place Duo Interpretation — Stephen Eastland and Danielle Polhamus
Second Place Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate (4-0 Record) — Stefanie Nifenecker
First Place Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate (4-0 Record) — Meredith Bryson
Additionally the following students placed:
Skylor Hoffman — 9th place Novice LD
Will Willis — 10th place Novice LD
Benjamin Nicholas — 3rd place Prose/Poetry
Ryan Kappel and Alyssa Block — 4th place Duo Interp
Cameron Lawson and Kristie Skaggs — 9th place Duo Interp
Stephen Lovegrove — 7th place Impromptu Speaking
Valerie Myers and Jackie Olinger — 10th place Varsity Public Forum Debate
Taylor Garlock — 11th place Humorous Interp
Anna Vallier — 12th place Humorous Interp
Lydia Petterson — 6th place Original Oratory
Stephen Lovegrove — 10th place Original Oratory
Katie MacDonald — 11th place Original Oratory
Mauldin HS Debate Tournament — Nov. 14
Bob Jones Academy Debate nearly sweeps debate awards at Mauldin Tournament
Saturday, November 14th, 33 members of the Academy debate team competed at the Mauldin HS Debate Tournament. 6 of the top 7 novice debaters were from Bob Jones. The following students were declared Champions:
Stephen Lovegrove in Original Oratory
Micah Sherer & Meredith Bryson in Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate were declared co-Champions with perfect 4-0 records
Jackie Olinger & Valerie Myers tied for 1st Place in Novice Public Forum Debate (and lost the tie-breaker)
Additionally the team won 12 other awards and were the Third Place Overall sweepstakes Champions.
Other award winners
Amanda Ross 2nd place Novice LD
Stephen Eastland 3rd Place Novice LD
Caleb McQuaid 5th Place Novice LD
Jacob Kuruvilla 6th Place Novice LD
Taylor Garlock 4th Place Novice Reading
Anna Vallier 5th Place Novice Reading
Emma Galloway 4th Place in Dramatic Interp.
Ben Nicholas 4th in Oral Interp and 5th in Duo Interp with Elena Taylor. Elena also won 3rd in Storytelling
Skylor Hoffman won 5th in Storytelling
Morristown West Cougar Classic Invitational — Nov. 7
On Saturday, November 7, the Academy Forensic Team competed against schools in Tennessee at the Morristown West Cougar Classic Invitational. The following students made it to final rounds in their various events and trophied:
Stephen Lovegrove and Margaret Stegall in Original Oratory
Skylor Hoffman and Benjamin Nicholas in Prose Interpretation
Ethan Ballentine and Nichole Martinson in Extemporaneous Speaking
Jackie Olinger and Valerie Myers in Public Forum Debate
Carolina HS Tournament — Oct. 3
Saturday, October 3, 15 members of the Bob Jones Academy Forensic team competed at Carolina HS in a Debate Tournament. 9 public and private high schools from across the state competed. The following students won awards:
Will Willis won 1st place in Novice Debate
Amanda Ross won 2nd place in Novice Debate
Valerie Myers won 1st place in Varsity Debate
Chandler Garlock won 1st Place in Novice Oratory
Margaret Stegall won 2nd place in Novice Oratory
Stephen Lovegrove won 1st place in Varsity Impromptu and 2nd place in Varsity Oratory
Anna Vallier won 2nd in Novice Humorous Interpretation
Additionally the team won the Overall Percentage Sweepstakes Award.
Other Award winners were:
Emma Galloway 3rd in Varsity Dramatic Interp.
Lydia Pettersen 5th in Varsity Oratory
Taylor Garlock 4th in Novice Oral Interp.
Meredith Bryson 5th in Novice Debate
Pinecrest HS Debate Tournament — Sept. 26
Saturday, September 26th the Academy Forensic team traveled to Pinehurst, NC to compete at the Pinecrest HS Debate Tournament. Competing against 27 schools from North and South Carolina the Academy team captured the overall First Place Sweepstakes Trophy. The following students won top awards:
Stephen Eastland in Oral Interpretation won 1st place
Stephen Lovegrove in Impromptu Speaking won 2nd place
Benjamin Nicholas and Elena Taylor in Duo Interpretation won 2nd place
Other Awards
Stefanie Nifenecler 3rd place in OI
Benjamin Nicholas 4th place in OI
Elena Taylor 5th in OI
Taylor Garlock 6th in OI
Emma Galloway 5th Place in Dramatic Interpretation
Katie Mac Donald 3rd in OO
Stephen Lovegrove 5th in OO
Stefanie Nifenecker 4th in Novice LD
Jacob Kuruvilla 5th in Novice LD
Drew Peterson, Stephen Eastland, and Robert Ryggs went 3-1 in Novice LD.
National Forensic League National Speech and Debate Tournament — June 2009
Jonathan Ludwig (2009 BJA graduate), Alicha Grubb (2009 graduate), and Stephen Lovegrove (current BJA junior) qualified in March to represent South Carolina in Lincoln-Douglas Debate and Extemporaneous Speaking respectively. Jon Ludwig advanced through nine rounds of debate to be in the top 50 in the nation (over 2400 debaters vied for national ranking). Jon's top 50 finish is the best finish for a South Carolina student in Lincoln-Douglas debate in over ten years, and it is the best finish ever for a BJA student in this category. Stephen Lovegrove competed with over 500 students in Impromptu Speaking. Stephen made it to quarter finals making him one of the top 30 impromptu speakers in the nation.
Mr. Nicholas received his Fifth Distinguished Service Award making him one of only 10 in the nation who has earned this award. Mrs. Nicholas received her Fourth Distinguished Service Award making her one of only thirteen in the nation to be recognized for service