Forensics Team Shatters Records With National Qualifiers

The Whitefish Bay High School Forensic and Debate team has had one of its best years yet, qualifying a record number of students for the most prestigious tournament in the country.

Whitefish Bay has previously only qualified two students for the National Forensic League tournament: Katie Plaster last year, and Devin Munger in 2010. This year, the school will be sending six students to the competition, which will be held June 16-21 in Birmingham, AL. 

"This is by far the best we have ever done at this tournament...this was an effort on behalf of everyone on our team," said Whitefish Bay forensic and debate coach Shawn Matson. "I couldn't be more proud."

The news of six NFL qualifiers comes on the heels of a record 12 students qualifying to the National Catholic Forensic League Grand Nationals in Philadelphia on May 25-26.

Whitefish Bay High School's first chapter of the National Forensic League was established in 1970. The chapter soon went inactive, and for many years, didn't field a team or compete in NFL activities. Over the past five years, though, the chapter has rebuilt itself with hard work and has earned the Leading Chapter Award for the southern Wisconsin NFL District.

"(This) is the culmination of all the hard work that every single member of our team has been involved with," Matson said. "Each round, each point, from each student, has helped us win this award."

Here are the six students who qualified for the NFL tournament in Alabama next month:

• Jim Broomfield first qualified for the competition through the Lincoln Douglas Debate, then qualified again by winning the House of Representatives category in the NFL Congress competition. He has opted to compete in the Lincoln Douglas Debate while in Birmingham.

• Senior Andrew Gegios qualified for the competition by winning first place in the NFL Congress' Senate competition. He also qualified by taking third place in the United States Extemporaneous Speaking category. He chose to compete in the NFL Congress' Senate category.

• Nicolette Sim and Joanne Sim won the duo interpretation category to qualify for the NFL tournament.

• Katie Plaster qualified by taking second place in the oratory category.

• Megan Huckenpahler qualified by taking third place in the oratory category.

The Whitefish Bay forensics team is trying to raise funds to be able to send the kids to the NFL tournament in Birmingham and the NCFL tournament in Philadelphia. Donations can be made through this website.