Freshman on the Jefferson City High School Speech and Debate team might be inexperienced, but it hasn't prevented them from contributing mightily to this year's team.
Three ninth-graders - Spenser Batholomew, Michael Craighead and Catherine Blotevogel - all qualified for the state competition when they competed last weekend at the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) District Tournament at Parkway South High School.
The's state debate/forensics tournament will be held April 24-25.
Batholomew qualified to state by placing first in Dramatic Interpretation at districts. Craighead qualified by placing third in International Extemporaneous Speaking. And Blotevogel qualified by placing first in Poetry Interpretation.
Blotevogel - who interpreted a poem entitled "Story on Page 6" by Will Webster - said last weekend's win caught her by surprise. The emotional poem is told from the point of view of a young girl who lost her mother in a car accident.
In her introductory remarks, Blotevogel discusses the five stages people go through when they grieve.
"Honestly, I was a spot filler," Blotevogel said, noting the team's coach called her to ask her to enter only days before the competition. As the judges announced their results, Blotevogel thought she might place sixth or eighth, and so she was shocked when she was announced as the first-place winner.
With only a week to polish her performance, Blotevogel said it's possible the freshness of her performance captured the judges' approbation.
The JCHS Speech and Debate team has about 30 regular members - small when compared to some of the larger, urban districts who have as many as 70 participants.
Seniors Meredith Manda and Sabrina Tannehill not only compete together as debate partners, they also serve as co-presidents of the JCHS team. Both young women are excited about the team's future.
"To have three freshmen going to state, that is a huge accomplishment," Manda said. "Everybody has been working really, really hard this year and this is what we're working for."
"We've so excited to see what's going to happen in the years to come," Tannehill added.
Participating in speech and debate is no small accomplishment. Members hone their skills by researching, studying and practicing nearly every school day until 6 or 7 p.m. And when they're not at school studying, they are often on the road traveling to weekend competitions.
"I'm usually here 12 hours a day," Tannehill said with a shrug.
"A lot of people don't understand why we like it," Manda said.
"But we love it," Tannehill added.
Freshmen on the team weren't the only qualifiers. Other students headed to the state competition include:
• Senior Austin Redding, who placed second in Radio Speaking.
• Seniors Redding and Adam Waggoner, who placed first in Duet Acting.
• Junior Jonathan Satterfield, who placed second in Humorous Interpretation.
• Junior Kyle Craft and Sophomore Lucy Liao, who placed fourth in Policy Debate.
Debate Coach and Teacher Jordan Hart said he is still "smiling from ear to ear over the success that the students earned this past weekend.
"This is one of the tournaments that we have been working for all year, and for the work to manifest into a state qualification speaks depths to the rigor that the students put in," Hart said. "Jefferson City should beam with pride over the student's individual success because this is one of the most academically rigorous activities in which a high school student can participate. We continue to grow closer as a team, and it was certainly enjoyable to watch our student's reactions when their results were finally announced.
"I certainly have enjoyed working with each student this year, and I would not trade them for anything."
The team will travel next to St. Louis on this week to compete at the National District Tournament, a competition circuit separate from the state organization. Students who earn top marks will qualify to go to Dallas in June.