After a season of intensive travel, West High speechies and debaters are left only with hoarse voices and trophies. Fortunately, they won quite a few trophies. Most recently, debate duo Jeffrey Ding ’12 and Liam Hancock ’12 finished fourth in this year’s Battle for the Baker, an award recognizing season-long excellence in debate. Here’s a recap of the end of the season.

The girls’ basketball players weren’t the only State champions last weekend. West’s speech and debate team fielded several champions of its own. Here are the complete results from the Iowa Forensic League State Tournament March 1-3:

Speech:

Humorous interpretation:

Paul Curry ’14 – State champion

Daniel Syed ’14– second place

Jack Christensen ’14– fourth place Ruolu Liu ’13– fifth place

Erin Kallsen ’13- semifinalist

Dramatic interpretation:

Luke Brooks ’12– State champion

Daniel Syed ’14– third place

Vicky Zhu ’13– fourth place

Original oratory:

Eleanor Marshall ’12– State champion

Rachel Ruback ’13 – semifinalist

Domestic extemporaneous speaking:

Jeffrey Ding ’12– fourth place

Liam Hancock ’12 and Hilah Kohen ’14- semifinalists

Oral interpretation:

Vicky Zhu ’13– fourth place

Erin Kallsen ’13, Harry Mitchell ’14 and Ruchira Laroia ’12– semifinalists

Duo interpretation:

Abby Walling ’15 and Olivia Sheff ’15; Luke Brooks ’12 and Paul Curry ’14 – semifinalists

Debate:

Policy debate:

Jeffrey Ding ’12 and Liam Hancock ’12 – State champions

Alex Klopp ’12 and Kai Yan ’14– semifinalists

Amelia Moser ’14 and Hilah Kohen ’14; Layla Siddig ’15 and Audrey Hopewell ’15 – octafinalists

Top speaker – Jeffrey Ding ’12

Second speaker – Liam Hancock ’12

Public forum debate:

Katie Lew ’12 and Eleanor Marshall ’12 – semifinalists

Rachel Ruback ’12 and Alex Nelson ’13 – quarterfinalists

Qualifiers for Speech & Debate Nationals:

Vicky Zhu ’13– dramatic interpretation

Luke Brooks ’12– dramatic interpretation

Paul Curry ’14– humorous interpretation

Eleanor Marshall ’12– original oratory

Rachel Ruback ’12 and Alex Nelson ’12– public forum debate

Jeffrey Ding ’12 and Liam Hancock ’12– policy debate

Alex Klopp ’12 and Kai Yan ’14 – policy debate

The National Forensic League National Tournament will be held June 10-15 in Indianapolis.