This past weekend the Tournament of Champions, usually housed at the University of Kentucky, was hosted online, the first e-national tournament, and thus our students who had earned the right to be there were still able to compete virtually!
It was truly impressive ... they dressed in suits, took video of the platform speeches and even debated live ... it was so incredible to see and be a part of ... literally they were making speech history!!
Please congratulate the following participants … as they are incredible representatives of Mountain House High School Speech and Debate: Astrid Mann, Nabheea Ali, Vishnu Matta, Komal Vij, Manreet Sohi, Aashril Shazar, Dhruva Kolikineni. Rithanya Sivasubrahmanian, Anisha Yeddanapudi, Brianna Do, Elizabeth Su and Ananya Domala … they are phenomenal!
To the orators who competed, (Manreet, Nabeeha, Rithanya, Komal, Astrid and Brianna) they were outstanding! They delivered speeches not in front of the usual crowds, but recorded them alone in their homes proving that “virtual communication is vital communication.” Telling the world that no virus can take what matters from them, their voice. They were, and are the, epitome of the definition of a champion.
To the Expository Experts … Lizze and Ananaya … they were true detectives, figuring out the details of research and important information that the world needed to know, then finding the ways to share that with the world … their dedication to excellence makes them a champion of information, interest, and ingenuity!
To our lone lady … the amazing Anisha, the only extemporaneous speaker to ever attend the TOC from MHHS… let alone being the first female extemper … she has continually forged her way through the field, fought her way to the top and showed her competency and character as she tackled the tough topics; what an awe-inspiring young lady championing representation in both beauty and brains!
Dhruva and Aashril became the second Mountain House team to ever qualify for the prestigious tournament. They debated well throughout the tournament, battling tough competition and early morning wake-up calls due to the challenge of debating folks in different time zones. Ultimately they went 4-3, falling just short of clearing to the elimination rounds; which despite that, is a really outstanding performance at the premier debate tournament in the country, and a fitting cap to their debate careers. They have shown their resilience and flexibility as they attempted a new challenge and rose to the occasion, if that is not the definition of a champion, I am not sure what is!
But wait, there is more! Please shout out to VISHNU MATTA for taking 19th in the country, as he advanced to the quarter final rounds of the Tournament of Champions! He has made us laugh all year long, but his success is no laughing matter as he is something to aspire to be like, always bringing a smile to your face and a fierceness to rounds!
Congratulations to all who cleared at the 2020 Virtual Tournament of Champions, the E-TOC … so proud of you and so proud to be a Mustang!
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