CONTRIBUTED

Nine members of the Pinecrest Speech and Debate Team headed to Birmingham, Ala., on June 14 to compete for the 2009 National Forensic League national championships in speech and debate.

Competing students earned the opportunity by gaining national qualifier status at the Tar Heel East District Championships held at Pinecrest in April. Meredith Potter and Caleb Frye, reigning national champions in Public Forum Debate, earned the chance to defend their title at this year's tournament.

Other Pinecrest students who qualified to compete in the National Championship are Jenny Questell, Humorous Interpretation; Josephine Yurcaba, Lincoln-Douglas Debate; Ben Berk, Congressional Debate; Ben Denton, Extemporaneous Speaking; and Emily Brownback and Evan Sherwood, Duo Interpretation. The Duo Interp team of Kyle Ocheltree and Hunter Ocheltree also qualified for the national finals but are unable to attend the competition.

Pinecrest debate coaches Libby Carter and Robert Sheard have accompanied the group to Alabama.

The Public Forum team of Potter and Frye defeated 241 entries in the 2008 tournament to claim last year's title. It was the first time since 1983 that any student from North Carolina has claimed a national title in any of the ten events offered. Although they are the reigning champions, the Pinecrest debate duo had to re-qualify at the Tar Heel East District Tournament in order to compete again.

The National Forensic League is the nation's oldest and largest debate and speech honor society. Since its founding in 1925, over one million members in all 50 states have been enrolled; the NFL is open to qualified high school students throughout the nation. As an organization, the National Forensic League embraces diversity, interconnection, and visionary leadership, working to empower students to become effective communicators and ethical individuals. Famous alumni include stars such as Oprah Winfrey, Brad Pitt, Steven Colbert, and James Earl Jones.

The NFL National Championship Tournament is the largest and most prestigious speech and debate tournament held in the country.

For more information, contact Libby Carter at lcarter@mcs.k12.nc.us.