East High attended the National Speech and Debate Association's National Tournament held in Richmond, Virginia this past week. The tournament brings together nearly 6,000 students from nearly 1,300 schools from across 48 states, two U.S. territories, and six countries.
East was named a School of Outstanding Distinction for a fourth consecutive year. This is the NSDA’s highest team honor, awarded to the top 10 schools that earn the most points in speech and debate at the National Tournament. East is one of only four schools in the nation to earn this distinction for the last four consecutive years.
Perhaps most impressively, Zach Johannes was crowned the National Champion in Dramatic Interpretation, becoming the first student in Lincoln Public Schools history to win a national championship in one of the NSDA's main events.
Individual students success includes:
In Dramatic Interpretation which started with 263 competitors:
Senior Zach Johannes was the NATIONAL CHAMPION
*Zach is the first main event National Champion in LPS history
Senior Ethan Phan was 5th
In Program Interpretation which started with 260 competitors:
Senior Gavin Foust was 3rd
In Informative Speaking which started with 275 competitors:
Senior Claire Rooney was 4th
In Original Oratory which started with 282 competitors:
Sophomore Charlie Sanchez-Masi advanced to the Quarterfinal round (top 30), placing 16th
Sophomore Belinda Qiao
advanced to the Quarterfinal round
(top 30), placing 17th
In Duo Interpretation which started with 282 competitors:
Sophomores Wade Combs & Sawyer Shaner
advanced to the Quarterfinal round
(top 30), placing 19th
In Humorous Interpretation which started with 262 competitors:
Senior Amelia Schupbach advanced to the Octafinal round (top 60), placing 33rd
Junior Sloan Donahoo advanced to the Octafinal round (top 60), placing 37th
In Prose Reading (a supplemental event) which started with 418 competitors:
Senior Amelia Schupbach advanced to the Semifinal round (top 12), placing 9th
Junior Sloan Donahoo advanced to the Quarterfinal round (top 30), placing 23rd
In Expository Speaking (a supplemental event) which started with 571 competitors:
Sophomore Cooper Doell made it to the Double-Octafinal (top 120)
GO SPARTANS!
Photo/text Credit- Nick Herink