Grady Speech and Debate awarded 12th consecutive state championship

The Grady Jesters Speech and Debate Team was awarded its 12th consecutive state championship at the Georgia Forensics Coaches Association Varsity State Championships on Mar. 6.

The Jesters were awarded the speech, debate and overall sweepstakes, which were awarded based on a point system for the number of students advancing in their events and their final places. The tournament took place virtually from Friday, Mar. 5 and Saturday, Mar. 6.

For the debate events, the Jesters reached elimination rounds in three out of the four events. In Public Forum Debate, partners senior Elena Hubert and junior Everett Stubin were the runners-up. Stubin was awarded ninth speaker. In Lincoln Douglas Debate, junior Lauren Scaffidi was a semifinalist and junior Peter Haynes was a quarterfinalist. In Congressional Debate, senior George Lefkowicz was the champion, junior Ava Smith was the runner-up and senior Nicolas Kamel placed fourth.

For the speech events, the Jesters had students advance to elimination rounds in four out of the six events. In Extemporaneous Speaking, senior George Lefkowicz was the champion, junior Oliver Gray was the runner-up, senior Maeve Malaney-Lau placed third and senior Ava Smith placed fifth. In Impromptu, senior Lucia Fernandez was the champion and senior George Lefkowicz was the runner-up. In Informative, junior Eleanor Ball placed third and junior Matthew Vincent placed fourth. In Original Oratory, senior Lucia Fernandez was the champion and sophomore Salaam Awad placed third.

The tournament marked the end to a successful season for the Jesters on the Georgia Debate Circuit.