I have a new policy. All my subjects will be random lines I choose from books I open and pick a line. This one is from Shyness by Bernarddo J. Carducci. On a related note, Steph Chase got first in Oratory and will be going to nationals, I, however, will not be orating.
So, Quals is over with. James and Mark went undefeated and got first, and will be attending nationals in Georgia along with Steph. Joni got second in humor and will joining them in Georgia. Alex got two downs in LD and thus was out, and is bitter I think. He made it to Extemp finals and got 7th. Creepy uber-republican sophomore Jake joined Alex, receiving 6th. They will not be attending nationals, unless they qual in StuCon. (Fun and easy.. sort of.) Hmm… what else… most everyone was out from the start in IEs. I feel kind of bad for Luke and Tucker. Kind of. The other three Brookings debate teams were out in 3 or 4 rounds. That was too bad. Judges can be iffy.
Oh.. and in Lincoln Douglas… I went 6-0, only undefeated person. I will be in Atlanta this June.
Just in case you were wondering. (Ha. Spending weeks in the debate room finally paid off, although it's weird. With three judges and six rounds, there was only one 3-0 decision. One change of opinion (well.. two) would have lost it all for me. I'm really glad I get to go, but apprehensive too. The ballots in general were not so much “YOU RAWK!” but.. “You both debated poorly, but you… less so.” I think I'm just paranoid.)
I'd like to thank the following:
Jones, for your Root beer with the pretty man on the label. I bought a dupiclate of this bottle at the Watertown HyVee for good luck. It worked.
Minute Maid, for your Cranberry Apple Raspberry juice drink. I drank two during my work on preparing for quals and one at the HyVee for good luck. I used them for water bottles too. It worked.
Emma, for the good luck bracelet. It worked at Silverbowl and it worked here.
Maren, for allowing me to steal two hair thingies for bracelets. They've worked, and so stylish too.
Ms. Kroll and Ms. Pies, for the good luck metal clover slug thingy. It worked much better than last year's worry rock.
For all the little people, and showing that I am taller and smarter than you. Stupid midgets.
Tessa, for secretly getting my hooked on dispatch. “The General” was my theme for the tournament, and I listened to it before every round. It worked.
Saturday Night Live, for introducing me to Dee-Lite, whose wonderful “World Click” was my theme song for the affirmative.
Billy Joel, for “We Didn't Start the Fire,” my themesong for the negative.
Disclaimer: Ignore this post. (Ha, it's at the bottom! I have tricked you!)