Stefan Petrovic

Lawrence High School junior Stefan Petrovic finished 12th in the nation in extemporaneous debate, while nine other area students competed last week at the National Forensics League’s national speech and debate tournament in Dallas.

Students qualified to go to nationals by placing at the East Kansas NFL District tournaments held earlier this year.

“We had a great year,” Lawrence High speech and debate coach Jeff Plinsky said. “I think we probably had the best year in forensics that Lawrence High School has ever had. It was certainly the best in the recorded history that I have, which goes back to the mid-’80s. We knocked the pants off of it this year.”

For Free State High School, the debate team of Solomon Cottrell and Parker Hopkins, both seniors, made it through the six preliminary rounds and won their first two elimination rounds before dropping the final two, coach Jason Moore said.

“Other than Parker and Solomon, no one (from Free State) made it past the preliminary rounds. But getting to nationals is a nice accomplishment,” Moore said.

For Petrovic, it was the third time qualifying, and second time competing, at the national tournament. He was unable to compete at last year’s tournament in Overland Park because of other school commitments, Plinsky said.

He originally qualified this year in congressional debate but was eliminated early, and so he entered extemporaneous debate, one of several “consolation” events that students could choose from.

Other students from Lawrence High who competed were senior Hayley Luna in congressional debate; senior Lane Quick in Lincoln-Douglas debate; sophomore Joaquin Dorado Mariscal in humorous interpretation; and sophomore Natlie Cote in dramatic interpretation.

For Free State, junior Genevieve Prescher competed in congressional debate; senior Brianna “B” Adams qualified in original oratory; and sophomore Paige Lawrence competed in international extemporaneous speaking.

“Getting there is always a good accomplishment for all the students,” Moore said. “It was a good experience, especially for Genevieve and Paige being underclassmen. I really expect them to be there (at nationals) next year in Salt Lake City.”