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Wednesday, March 19, 2003 Page: 13A
The Meyers speech and debate team will send nine competitors to the
National Catholic Forensic League Grand National Tournament in Arlington, Va.,
over the Memorial Day weekend. They qualified for the event at the Scranton
Diocese championships at Wallenpaupack on March 2.
This is the largest number of national qualifiers for the school. Five
students qualified last year.
The top five finishers in each category in the district competition earn
bids to nationals. The diocese includes member schools from throughout
northeastern and north central Pennsylvania.
Alex Mertz, a senior, earned a berth in student congress. Mertz has
qualified to compete at nationals in this event for four consecutive years.
Last year at the Grand National Tournament in Pittsburgh, Mertz achieved the
semifinals in the event.
Senior John Monahan and freshman Sam Brand earned a qualifying spot in
policy debate, as did junior Jeff McGoldrick and sophomore Sarah Ancas. They
represent the first policy debate teams Meyers has qualified for nationals
since its speech and debate program was re-established in 1997. By qualifying
in policy debate, McGoldrick earned the distinction of being the first Meyers
student to qualify for nationals in two events. Last year, McGoldrick competed
in the Lincoln-Douglas debate in Pittsburgh.
James Casey, a junior, qualified in extemporaneous speaking, as did junior
Ray Wendolowski. This is Casey’s second trip to nationals.
Sophomore Ted Kopec earned a bid in Lincoln-Douglas debate. Sara Casey, a
freshman, qualified to compete in declamation – the first time Meyers has
qualified a student in this event.
Also competing for Meyers in the national qualifiers were Nick Wilson and
Matt Collins, in original oratory; Jeremy McKeon and Shane Casey,
Lincoln-Douglas debate; Caitlin Bolinger, Tara Monahan and Megan Kopec, oral
interpretation.
Meyers placed second in the overall league competition for the second
consecutive year. Scranton High School earned top honors this year.