Schools
State Champions ... Again, Ridge Wins NJ Speech and Debate Title for Ninth Straight Year
Seven individuals and many more dedicated competitors helped propel Ridge to yet another New Jersey title in high school forensics this past weekend.
The good times keep rolling for the Ridge forensics team, adding yet another state title to the program's resume on Saturday – the ninth straight year Ridge has earned the honor in New Jersey.
Seven Ridge speech and debate competitors won individual state champion awards to help the school's program take first place in the overall team sweepstakes by more than 200 points.
Ridge finished number one with 413 points over the two day event, ahead of Freehold (209), Montville (201), Delbarton School (169), Randolph (127) and Millburn (120). Ridge also took first place separately in the debate team sweepstakes (ahead of the Delbarton School) and in the speech team sweepstakes (ahead of Freehold).
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"The one thing we are definitely consistent with is coming together as a team," Ridge Director of Forensics David Yastremski said after the competition, which was held at Ridge High School this year. "They always come together and really support one another."
The team camaraderie was easily apparent during the awards ceremony held on Saturday night. Sophomore Adam Badrawi, state champion with debate partner junior Christopher Winter in public forum debate, turned and fist-pumped as a teammate and friend won an award shortly after Badrawi picked up his first place trophy.
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Badrawi and Winter joined a handful of other Ridge competitors as individual state champions in their event, including: team president, senior Alex Smyk, state champion in Congressional debate, senior Rohan Pai, first place in international extemporaneous speaking, junior Peter Vogel first in domestic extemporaneous speaking and sophomore Alex Liao and Liz Pires, co-champions of JV Lincoln-Douglas debate.
"It's a credit to this team's commitment," said Yastremski of the awards. Ridge forensics competitors commit to competing nearly every weekend from October through March. Yastremski said it was that "consistent commitment" that enables the team to have it's record breaking success.
The team will compete in two national tournament qualifiers over the next few weeks before sending their best to three different national tournaments in May and June.
Editor's Note: Basking Ridge Patch published an exclusive profile of the Ridge Forensics program earlier this year for those who are interested in the team.
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