Forensics Team Members Take Top Awards at National Competition

All four members of the Summit High School Forensics team who qualified for the National Forensics League National tournament advanced to elimination rounds earlier this month in Dallas. The students qualified for the National tournament, the largest academic tournament in the world, by placing among the top three in their individual events at the New Jersey Forensic League District tournament in March.

More than 3,500 forensic students competed at the week-long National tournament with over 250 entered in each of the 11 debate, speaking, and interpretation events.

"So advancing to the elimination rounds represents a significant accomplishment for the Summit team," Forensics team adviser Anne Poyner said via email.

Sam Goodstein advanced to the quarter finals in Prose Interpretation, ranking in the top 24 out of 350 competitors.  Allison Scott advanced to the Octo-Final rounds in Humorous Interpretation, ranking in the top 60 out of 240 competitors.  For the first time in seven years of National qualifiers, Summit advanced two students to the final rounds:  Erin Fitzpatrick won second place in Prose Interpretation and Elizabeth Akudugu won third place in Dramatic Interpretation.  As a National finalists, both won scholarships and their final round performances will be included on the NFL National video which is made available to all NFL coaches for instructional purposes.

National Finalists:  

• Elizabeth Akudugu, third place in Dramatic Interpretation; Anne Poyner, coach;
• Erin Fitzpatrick, second place in Prose Interpretation