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Blue Springs, MO —
This is the second year that Michael Cohen has made it to the final rounds of the National Forensic League’s National Speech and Debate Tournament.
But this year it felt much different to the soon-to-be senior at Truman High School.
“I was so much more relaxed this year, and it just felt better,” said Cohen, who placed second in the nation last year in humorous interpretation. “I was not nervous this time. I just wanted to have a good time. It was definitely a lot more fun.”
Cohen, along with Tara Williams, both from Truman and Lyric Davis and Michilla Walker, both from Blue Springs High School, placed in the top 15 in the nation during this year’s national tournament in Indianapolis. Cohen and Williams placed fifth in duo interpretation; Davis placed 10th in dramatic interpretation and Walker placed 14th, also in dramatic interpretation.
Cohen, Williams and Davis all received automatic qualifications to compete at the 2013 national tournament. Walker was not eligible because she graduated in May.
Cohen and Williams performed a piece from “Jumanji,” about brother and sister battling creatures that come out of a board game. Williams, also a senior this fall, said she felt really strong and prepared going into the semifinal and final rounds and believes their performance met both of their expectations.
“We loved this duo, and we loved performing it. I think that is why we were ultimately successful,” she said. “There were a lot of good people who were doing a lot of different things. It was definitely a skilled group of competitors.”
Davis said she felt “happy and awesome” about her performance. A senior this fall at Blue Springs, she said she is going to take what she has learned and use it to do even better at nationals next year.
“I felt good when I was in the rooms,” she said. “All of the people were on the same level. I was really happy that I did so well for my first time. It felt amazing.”
Walker said she felt “satisfied” and was happy with how she finished. She said it was a great way to end her high school forensics career.
“My last two rounds where my two best rounds ever. I wanted to go out with a bang, and I did that,” she said. “I really felt like Lyric was my duo partner, even though we weren’t actually duo partners. We entered in the same round and we finished together in semifinals. It was fun, and it felt great.”
This is the second year that Michael Cohen has made it to the final rounds of the National Forensic League’s National Speech and Debate Tournament.
But this year it felt much different to the soon-to-be senior at Truman High School.
“I was so much more relaxed this year, and it just felt better,” said Cohen, who placed second in the nation last year in humorous interpretation. “I was not nervous this time. I just wanted to have a good time. It was definitely a lot more fun.”
Cohen, along with Tara Williams, both from Truman and Lyric Davis and Michilla Walker, both from Blue Springs High School, placed in the top 15 in the nation during this year’s national tournament in Indianapolis. Cohen and Williams placed fifth in duo interpretation; Davis placed 10th in dramatic interpretation and Walker placed 14th, also in dramatic interpretation.
Cohen, Williams and Davis all received automatic qualifications to compete at the 2013 national tournament. Walker was not eligible because she graduated in May.
Cohen and Williams performed a piece from “Jumanji,” about brother and sister battling creatures that come out of a board game. Williams, also a senior this fall, said she felt really strong and prepared going into the semifinal and final rounds and believes their performance met both of their expectations.
“We loved this duo, and we loved performing it. I think that is why we were ultimately successful,” she said. “There were a lot of good people who were doing a lot of different things. It was definitely a skilled group of competitors.”
Davis said she felt “happy and awesome” about her performance. A senior this fall at Blue Springs, she said she is going to take what she has learned and use it to do even better at nationals next year.
“I felt good when I was in the rooms,” she said. “All of the people were on the same level. I was really happy that I did so well for my first time. It felt amazing.”
Walker said she felt “satisfied” and was happy with how she finished. She said it was a great way to end her high school forensics career.
“My last two rounds where my two best rounds ever. I wanted to go out with a bang, and I did that,” she said. “I really felt like Lyric was my duo partner, even though we weren’t actually duo partners. We entered in the same round and we finished together in semifinals. It was fun, and it felt great.”
