<< BackNovice Speech Team Makes Some Noise
Rickey Clayborn (jr), Joseph Nilson (jr), Billy Hopkins (sr), Nathan Lane (so), Tyler Wynd (so), Rodrigo Arcibar (jr), Will DiFrancesca (jr)
Although in their rookie season as a club at Notre Dame College Prep, the Speech Team's presence is being heard loud and clear through outstanding efforts this season. Students Tyler Wynd and Will DiFrancesca recently qualified for the National Catholic League Forensics Tournament in Omaha, Nebraska this May. Over the weekend of January 22-23, Tyler Wynd was named Chicago Catholic Forsenic League tournament champion (1st place) in Dramatic Performance and Will DiFrancesca was tournament champion (1st place) in Oral Interpretation. Additionally, their records for the season placed these two in the top six in the district, qualifying them for the Chicago Catholic League national team. Wynd and DiFrancesca will represent Notre Dame this May at the NCFL National tournament in Omaha.
Equally impressive are fellow Speech Team teammates Nathan Lane (2nd place in Oratorical Declamation) and Rodrigo Arcibar (2nd place in Oral Interpretation) for achieving personal best scores and reaching 2nd place in large competitive fields. Despite being in his first speech tournament, Billy Hopkins had an outstanding showing with a 6th place finish in Original Oratory.
Rounding out the stellar at the final CCLF tournament were Rickey Clayborn in Dramatic Performance and Joseph Nilson in Oral Interpretation. Each received personal best speaker points there.
"Notre Dame's small but mighty team was awarded 6th place, competing closely with teams two and three times our size. Marist won the tournament this week, with Buffalo Grove in a close second," said Tyler Beattie, Notre Dame's Drama Director and moderator of the Speech team.
According to Beattie, the fine showing at this year's CCFL final tournament was a continuation of the new Speech Team's tremendous efforts this year. Here are their statistics:
JV CCFL Tournament at Stagg
Tyler Wynd-- 2nd in Dramatic Performance
Will DiFrancesca-- 2nd in Oral Interpretation
Joseph Nilson-- 3rd in Oral Interpretation
Varsity CCFL Tournament at Loyola
Tyler Wynd-- 2nd in Dramatic Performance
Will DiFrancesca-- 4th in Oral Interpretation
Glenbrook Tournament
Tyler Wynd, Will DiFrancesca and Joseph Nilson, as novices, bravely entered in a national invite and competed with the best of the best from around the country
Varsity CCFL Tournament at St. Ignatius
Tyler Wynd-- 2nd in Dramatic Performance
Rolling Meadows Public League Tournament
Tyler Wynd-- 1st in Humorous Interpretation
Varsity CCFL Tournament at Holy Trinity
Tyler Wynd-- 1st place in Dramatic Performance
Will DiFrancesca-- 1st place in Oral Interpretation
Nathan Lane-- 2nd place in Oratorical Declamation
Rodrigo Arcibar-- 2nd place in Oral Interpretation
Billy Hopkins-- 6th place in Original Oratory
CCFL League Results
Tyler Wynd-- National Qualifier in Dramatic Performance
Will DiFrancesca-- National Qualifier in Oral Interpretation
Beattie is pleased with the team's efforts this year.
"The members of the Notre Dame speech team have surpassed my expectations this year. In launching a Speech Team for the first time, I chose to enter them in the most challenging varsity-level competitions, and encouraged them to set personal goals and do their best. These students rapidly developed skills students usually develop over several years of forensics competition, and have quickly become a force in the activity. These students spend countless hours reading, cutting, rehearsing, and perfecting speeches and performances. The learn to speak with confidence and power, and to compete like gentlemen. The students and I are excited to get more students involved next year," said Beattie.