Academy Forensic Team

American Mock Trial Invitational — May 18-19

Monday and Tuesday, May 18 and 19, the Bob Jones Academy mock trial team competed in the Fourth Annual American Mock Trial Invitational in New Brunswick, NJ. Competing against 25 other teams from across the United States, Canada and South Korea, the BJA team finished third with a perfect 3-0 record. The following students won individual awards:

Brendan Kelley — best witness
Valerie Myers — best attorney
Jackie Olinger — best attorney

South Carolina NFL District Tournament — Mar. 20-21

Friday and Saturday, March 20 and 21 the Academy Forensic team competed at the South Carolina NFL District Tournament at Hillcrest High School. Bob Jones was awarded the NFL Leading Chapter Award for accumulating the most number of NFL membership degrees over the last six years. The Academy also won the NFL Tournament Trophy for its excellence in accumulation of competition rounds. Additionally the following students qualified for the national competition to be held in Birmingham, AL this June:

Stephen Lovegrove qualified for the second year in a row in Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking
Alicha Grubb qualified in International Extemporaneous Speaking
Jonathan Ludwig qualified in Lincoln Douglas Debate

South Carolina Bar's High School Mock Trial — Mar. 13-14

Friday and Saturday, March 13 and 14, the Bob Jones Academy Varsity mock trial team competed at the state competition of the South Carolina Bar's High School Mock Trial competition in Columbia, SC. Competing against 11 other teams, the BJA team finished second in the state. This marks the sixth time this decade that a BJA team has finished first or second in South Carolina. The following students won individual awards:

Jon Ludwig - most effective witness
Brendan Kelley - most effective witness
Valerie Myers - most effective attorney
Jackie Olinger - most effective attorney
Stephen Vogt - most effect attorney in two rounds

Additionally, the BJA Varsity team received an invitation to compete in the American Mock Trial Invitational to be held in New Brunswick, NJ in May.

State Speech and Debate Tournament at Wando High School — Mar. 6-7

March 6-7 the Academy Forensic Team participated in the 2009 SCFCA State Speech and Debate Tournament hosted by Wando HS in Mt. Pleasant, SC. The Academy was crowned the top 1-A school and was the Second Place overall sweepstakes school.

State Champion in Poetry - Junior, Emma Galloway
State Champion in Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate - Sophomore, Stephen Lovegrove
State Champion in Varsity Lincoln-Douglas Debate - Senior, Patrick Hulehan
Outstanding Novice in Congress - Junior,Will Willis
Outstanding Novice in Oratory - Junior, Shannon Theobald

2nd place Varsity LD - Jon Ludwig
2nd place Novice LD - Valerie Myers
2nd place Poetry - Jon Reid
2nd place US Extemp - Alicha Grubb
6th place Children's Literature - Jamie Foster
3rd Place Oratory - Jackie Olinger
5th place Oratory - Emma Galloway
6th Place Oratory - Shannon Theobald
6th Place Humorous Interp - Marrisa Thompson
Semifinalist Novice LD - Chase Kelley
Semifinalist Varsity LD - Brendan Kelley
Quarterfinalist Novice LD - Celeste Young
Quarterfinalist Varsity LD - Josiah Wartak

Semi Finalists in other events:
Poetry - Amanda Porter and Marrisa Thompson
Oratory - John Moon, Ellis Schoolfield, Stefanie Nifenecker, Drew Petersen
Duo Interp - Amanda Porter, Jon Reid, Ben Nicholas, Drew Petersen
Children's Literature - Ben Nicholas
Prose - Caleb Cox and Caleb McQuaid

Piedmont Regional of the South Carolina Bar's High School Mock Trial Competition — Feb. 28

On Saturday, February 28 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 12 teams from across the upstate, the BJA Varsity Team advanced to the state competition to be held March 13 and 14 in Columbia, SC. The following students won individual awards: David Tabor (most effective witness), Amanda Ross (most effective witness), Jon Ludwig (most effective witness in all three rounds), Jamie Noel (most effective attorney), Kristen Ince (most effective attorney), and Valerie Myers (most effective attorney).

J.L. Mann Patriot Invitational Tournament — Feb. 28

Saturday, February 28, the Academy Forensic Team competed at the J.L. Mann Patriot Invitational Tournament. The following students won awards:

Benjamin Nicholas & Mary Kate O'Donnell tied for first place in Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate. Patrick Hulehan & Josiah Wartak tied for first place in Varsity Lincoln Douglas Debate. All four students had 4-0 records.

Additionally the team captured the Overall First Place Sweepstakes Award.

Additional awards won:

Caleb McQuaid 2nd in Novice Reading
Josiah Wartak 2nd in Varsity LD
Mary Kate O'Donnell 2nd in Novice LD
Shannon Theobald 2nd in Oratory
Celeste Young 3rd in Novice LD
Sam Worley 5th in Novice Reading
Stefanie Nifenecker 5th in Oratory & 5th in Storytelling
Stephen Lovegrove 5th in Novice LD

Additional Placements were:

John Moon 9th in Oratory
Lydia Petterson 14th in Storytelling
Caleb Cox 14th in Novice Reading
Austin Burke 20th in Novice Reading
Jaimie Wilson 8th in Humorous Interp.
Jessie Walker 10th in Humorous Interp.
Alexa Litzenberger 15th in Dramatic Interp.
Mary Maloney 7th in Novice LD
Chase Kelley 9th in Novice LD

Riverside High School Tournament — Feb. 21

Saturday, February 21st, the Academy Forensic team competed at the Riverside HS Debate Tournament and the SC NFL Congressional Qualifier Tournament. Competing against students from North & South Carolina the following students won first place awards:

Chase Kelley and Celeste Young tied in Novice LD Debate with perfect 4-0 records
Amanda Porter & Jonathan Reid in Duo Interpretation with 4 perfect scores

The team also won the 2nd Place Overall Sweepstakes Award.

Additional Award winners were:
Josiah Wartak 2nd in Varsity LD
Benjamin Nicholas 3rd in Novice LD
Jackie Olinger 2nd in Oratory
Emma Galloway 3rd in Oratory
Drew Petersen 4th in Oratory
Stefanie Nifenencker 6th in Oratory & 2nd in Storytelling
Austin Burke 3rd in Impromptu & 4th in Extemporaneous Speaking
Caleb Cox 2nd in Novice Reading
Lydia Petterson 4th in Novice Reading
Caleb McQuaid 6th in Novice Reading
Marisa Thompson 3rd in Humorous Interpretation
Jonathan Ludwig 1st Alternate in NFL Congressional Senate
Stephen Lovegrove 1st Alternate in NFL Congressional House A
Valerie Myers 6th in NFL Congressional House B
Alicha Grubb 4th in NFL Congressional House A

Additional Placements were:

John Moon 8th in Oratory
Ellis Schoolfield 9th in Oratory
Erin Nichols 10th in Oratory
Jamie Foster 9th in Storytelling
Drew Petersen 10th in Storytelling
Alexa Litzenberger 10th in Oral Interpretation
Jillian Foster 12th in Impromptu & 14th in Dramatic Interpretation

T. L. Hanna High School Tournament — Feb. 14

Saturday, February 14th the Academy Forensic team at T. L. Hanna HS in Anderson, SC. Competing against students from North & South Carolina the following students won first place awards:

Benjamin Nicholas in Novice LD Debate with a 4-0 record
Caleb McQuaid in Novice Reading
Amanda Porter & Jonathan Reid in Duo Interpretation
Stephen Lovegrove in Impromptu Speaking & Extemporaneous Speaking
Jonathan Ludwig & Patrick Hulehan tied for First place in Varsity LD Debate with 4-0 records. The tie was broken on speaker points giving Jon first and Patrick second.

Additionally the team won the 2nd Place Overall Sweepstakes Award

Additional Awards:
Patrick Hulehan 2nd in Varsity LD
Josiah Wartak 3rd in Varsity LD
Brendan Kelley 4th in Varsity LD
Celeste Young 2nd Place in Novice LD
Valerie Myers 3rd Place in Novice LD
Chase Kelley 4th in Novice LD
Alicha Grubb 4th in Impromptu & 2nd in Extemporaneous
Lydia Petterson 5th in Novice Reading
Jessie Walker 6th in Humorous Interpretation
Jackie Olinger 6th Place in Oratory
Stephanie Nifenecker 6th in Storytelling
Mary Kate O'Donnell 9th in Novice LD
Stephanie Nifenecker 7th in Oratory
Ellis Schoolfield 8th in Oratory
Emma Galloway 10th in Oratory
John Moom 12th in Oratory
Erin Nichols 13th in Oratory
Drew Petersen 14th in Oratory & 9th in Storytelling
Jamie Foster 10th in Storytelling
Jillian Foster 13th in Impromptu
Austin Burke 14th in Impromptu

Southside High School Debate Tournament — Feb. 7

Saturday, Febraury 7, the Academy Forensic team competed at the Southside HS Debate Tournament. Competing against teams from SC, NC, GA, and VA, the following students won first place awards:

Sophomores Benjamin Nicholas and Stephen Lovegrove were the only debaters to go 4-0 in their debate rounds tying for First Place in Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate.

Additionally the team won 9 other awards and won the Overall Percentage Sweepstakes Award.

Other award winners:
Alicha Grubb 2nd Place in Impromptu & 11th in Extemporaneous
Lydia Petterson 2nd in Novice Reading
Jamie Foster 2nd in Children's Storytelling
Jackie Olinger 2nd in Oratory
Stefanie Nifenecker 6th in Oratory & 9th in Children's Storytelling
Emma Galloway 8th in Oratory & 5th in Oral Interpretation
Jaimie Wilson 6th in Humorous Interpretation
Marisa Thompson 7th in Humorous Interpretation
Jessie Walker 9th in Humorous Interpretation
Shannon Theobald 10th in Oratory
Ellis Schoolfield 12th in Oratory
John Moon 14th in Oratory
Caleb Cox 7th in Novice Reading
Mary Kate O'Donnell 7th in Novice LD

Westside High School Speech Tournament — Jan. 24

Saturday, January 24th, the Academy Forensic Team competed at the Westside High School Speech Tournament in Anderson, SC. The following students won first place awards:

Amanda Porter & Jon Reid in Duo Interpretation
Shannon Theobald in Original Oratory
Alicha Grubb in Extemporaneous Speaking & in Impromptu Speaking
Emma Galloway in Oral Interpretation
Marisa Thompson in Humorous Interpretation
Lydia Petterson in Novice Reading
Janie Foster in Children's Literature
Patrick Hulehan in Varsity LD Debate
Brendan Kelley in Novice LD Debate (4-0 Record)

Additionally the team captured the First Place Overall Sweepstakes.

Additional awards won:

Benjamin Nicholas 2nd in Novice LD (4-0 record)
Josiah Wartak 3rd in Novice LD
Valerie Myers 2nd in Varsity LD
Stephen Lovegrove 3rd in VLD
Alexa Litzenberger 2nd in NR
Caleb Cox 3rd in NR
Jessie Walker 2nd in HI
Jaimie Wilson 4th in HI
Emma Galloway 2nd in OO
Jackie Olinger 3rd Place in OO
Stefanie Nifenecker 4th in OO & 2nd in Children's Literature
Drew Petersen 5th in OO & 3rd in OI
Rachel Hudson & Jeff Thompson 2nd Place in Duo
Amanda Porter & Marisa Thompson 2nd place in IDA
Jonathan Ludwig 2nd in Student Congress
Will Willis 7th in Student Congress

Asheville High School Tournament — Nov. 22

Competing against 32 schools from North and South Carolina the Bob Jones Academy Forensic team captured the Third Place Overall Sweepstakes Trophy at Asheville HS Saturday November 22nd. The following students won First Place awards:

Stephen Lovegrove & Josiah Wartak in Novice Public Forum Debate
Valerie Myers in Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate

Other student awards included:

Alicha Grubb 5th Place in Ipromptu
Jackie Olinger 4th in Oratory
Emma Galloway 2nd in Oratory
Joanna Brady 3rd in Novice LD
Brendan Kelley 7th in Novice LD
Benjamin Nicholas 8th in Novice LD
Patrick Hulehan 6th in Varsity LD

Mauldin High School Speech & Debate Tournament — Nov. 15

Saturday, November 15th, the Academy Forensic Team competed at the Mauldin High School Speech & Debate Tournament. Competing against 15 schools from North & South Carolina the following students won first place awards:

Jackie Olinger in Original Oratory
John Reid in Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate

Additionally the team won the 2nd Place Overall Sweepstakes Trophy.

Additional award winners:

Jonathan Ludwig 2nd Place in Varsity LD
Stephen Lovegrove 3rd Place in Varsity LD
Josiah Wartak 6th place in Varsity LD
Benjamin Nicholas 4th Place in Novice LD
Brendan Kelley 2nd Place in Novice LD
Patrick Hulehan 5th Place in Varsity LD
Note all 7 Academy Debaters trophied in their respective divisions.
Shannon Theobald 3rd place in Oratory
Stefanie Nifenecker 6th place in Oratory & 5th Place in Storytelling
Amanda Porter & Marisa Thompson 3rd in Impromptu Duet Acting
Rachel Hudson & Jeff Thompson 6th in Imprompu Duet Acting
Alicha Grubb 6th in Impromptu & 3rd in Extemporaneous

Hillcrest HS Speech Tournament — Nov. 1

Saturday, November 8th the BJA Forensic team competed against 22 schools from North and South Carolina at the Hillcrest HS Speech Tournament in Simpsonville. The following students won first place awards:

Emma Galloway in Original Oratory
Josiah Wartak in Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate

Additionally the team won the second place Overall Sweepstakes Trophy.

Additional trophies won by the team:

The Novice Academy Debaters swept the top five places at the tournament:
2nd Place Novice LD - Joanna Brady
3rd Place Novice LD - Jonathan Ried
4th Place Novice LD - Benjamin Nicholas
5th Place Novice LD - Brendan Kelley
2nd Place Varsity LD - Valerie Myers
4th Place Varsity LD - Jonathan Ludwig
3rd Place Oratory - Jackie Olinger
6th Place Oratory - Shannon Theobald
2nd Place Humorous Interp - Marisa Thompson
4th Place humporous Interp - Catherine Jacobs
4th Place Novice Reading - Caleb Cox
5th Place Novice Reading - Caleb McQuaid
4th Place Impromptu - Alicha Grubb
3rd Place Impromptu Duet - Marissa Thompson & Amanda Porter

Chestnutt Hill Invitational Speech Tournament — Nov. 1

Saturday, November 1, the Academy Forensic Team travelled to Morristown, TN to compete in the 20th annual Chestnutt Hill Invitational Speech Tournament. In the Championship round of Public Forum Debate the Academy team of Stephen Lovegrove and Valerie Myers defeated the Academy team of Jonathan Ludwig and Josiah Wartak for first and second places respectively.

Additional winners included:
Benjamin Nicholas 6th place in prose Reading
Drew Petersen 5th Place in Oratory
Jackie Olinger 4th Place in Oratory
Alicha Grubb 6th Place in Extemporaneous Speaking

North Mecklenburg High School — Oct. 11

Saturday, October 11th, the Academy Forensic Team traveled to Huntersville, NC to compete at North Mecklenburg High School. Competing aginst teams from North & South Carolina the following students won First Place Awards:

Emma Galloway in Original Oratory
Marisa Thompson in Humorous Interpretation
Jon Ludwig in Junior Varsity Lincoln Douglas Debate
Valerie Myers in Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate
Alicha Grubb in Impromptu Speaking

Additionally, 5 of the Academy Novice debaters had perfect 4-0 records enabling the Academy to capture the Third Place Overall Sweepstakes Trophy.

Additional award winners:

Stephen Lovegrove 2nd place in Novice LD
Josiah Wartak 3rd in Novice LD
Brendan Kelley 4th in Novice LD
Benjamin Nicholas 7th in Novice LD
Chase Kelley 9th in Novice LD (All of the names listed were 4-0)
Meredith Bryson 3rd in OI, 2nd place in Storytelling
Jamie Foster 3rd in Storytelling
Alicha Grubb 3rd in EXT
Patrick Hulehan 2nd in JV LD
Drew Petersen 3rd in OO
Ellis Schoolfield 4th in OO
Jessie Walker 5th in HI
Jamie Wilson 6th in HI
Sam Worley 4th in OI

East Chapel Hill High School Debate Tournament — Oct. 4

Saturday, October 4th the Bob Jones Academy Forensic team competed at the East Chapel Hill High School Debate Tournament. Competing against 17 schools from North and South Carolina the following students won awards:

Stephen Lovegrove, Benjamin Nicholas, & Valerie Myers tied for First Place in Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate. Additionally, Alicha Grubb won First Place in Extemporaneous Speaking.

Additional East Chapel Hill winners:
Stephen Lovegrove 1st Place in Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate
Benjamin Nicholas 2nd Place in Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate
Valerie Myers winning 3rd place in Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate
Brendan Kelley 4th Place in Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate
Josiah Wartak 7th Place in Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate
Drew Petersen 3rd Pace in Oratory

Carolina High School Speech and Debate Tournament — Oct. 4

Saturday, October 4th the Academy Forensic team competed at the Carolina High School Speech and Debate Tournament. Competing against 15 schools from South Carolina the following students won awards:

Jonathan Reid 3rd in Novice Lincoln Douglas debate
Patrick Hulehan 2nd in Varsity Lincoln Douglas Debate
Shannon Theobald 2nd in Novice Original Oratory
Stefanie Nifenecker 3rd in Novice Original Oratory
Emma Galloway 2nd in Varsity Original Oratory
Meredith Bryson 6th Place Novice Children's Literature
Bethany Fitzgerald 5th In Varsity Dramatic Interpretation