your first national tournament

[tourrettic]

what do you remember about your first national tournament? which one was it? how many years had you been competing. i've only been to state ones so i can't really answer my own question, i was just wondering what you thought.

[oratorychica]

winning

[OOJessOO]

The very first tournament I ever competed at was Crestian and up until that point I had no clue what a tournament even looked like. I hadn't even been to a local. My best friend and I threw together an awful duo and got crushed. I remember getting our ballots and being thrilled to see that we recieved a five in one of our rounds. I also remember that as the moment I fell in love with forensics. I guess it's safe to say that we've made a lot of progress since then.

[ria]

i've never had the priviledge of competing at a national tournament, but my brother did once. it was CFL nationals three years ago, at pittsburg. i went to observe, and it was crazy. definetaly fun. hanging out on the steps of that one building at the college...i can't remember which one it was...started w/a "d"....i thought it was really great talking to so many people from all the different states...i remember one girl from New Mexico. i'd never met anybody from new mexico before.

[rubberducky1234]

my first tournament was blue key last year. i hadn't been to a local or even had a clue what duo really was. so with the help of the wonderful seniors me adn my friend through together a piece that seems to be like what 00Jess00 said. we got all 6's and a 5 but it was deffinetly a good way to find out what duo was supposed to be

[veronica]

I have never had the chance to compete at a national tournament. I wish my coach would allow us to. She mentioned it in the beginng of the season, but has changed her mind.

[The King of Red Lions]

I have a feeling this refers to NFL Nationals.

[Chewie]

My first, and only National Tournament was NFL Nats 2003. I remember really liking the city of Atlanta, but not much else. I remember walking around downtown trying to find the various buildings of Georgia State University.

Most of all, I remember the complete lack of communication with my duo partner. She decided to fly down on a plane, while the rest of us rode on a bus from Kansas City. I don't think I saw her but once or twice that week outside of the compeition, and she left Thursday without even saying goodbye. I didn't even know she was gone until one of our LD'ers told me. I've only seen her once since.

*tear*

Despite all that, she's a really awesome chick. :D

[ria]

i almost got to go to CFL nationals last year....i was either 2nd or 3rd out...i'm thinking second....

[SniffyGuy]

My first away tournament was Harvard '02. I was a freshman. The main thing I remember about that tournament was realizing that people's pieces can be REALLY REALLY good. I specifically remember getting goosebumps when I saw the Grinch in Duo finals, and when they got cheers in the middle of their piece after the mirror gag (I'd never seen anything like that happen before). It was a bit of a turning point for me; I pretty much made it my goal to get onto that stage and perform for that audience.

[Ryan]

My favorite part about that duo was the sleigh ride. Trivia: They actually wore knee pads under their suits for that part since it was so demanding on their knees.

[Christamae]

I started forensics my sophomore year-skipped novice level- to go straight to qualifying. My first tournament I got first in SO and broke to finals in prose. I fell in love with it. I am a competitive person and love to talk so I found the perfect combination. I have a severe, progressive form of Muscular Dystrophy and use an electric wheelchair full-time so competitive forensics was my first opportunity to fulfill that drive. I made great friends, too. Every tournament I went to that year I medalled in at least one event and broke in at least one other (usually 2 medals-including Champ categories). I took SO (declamation on this site) to State (qualifying 2nd at Regionals). Junior year I at least made finals at every tournament and usually medalled. I did better at the big tournaments, though, getting 2nd in all 4A schools in OK in OO and 4th in all 4A schools in OK in poetry. I also qualified my OO to the 2002 Nationals in North Carolina. That was my last tournament :(. We moved to CA to a school without forensics. Then I had 4 major operations resulting in a 6 1/2 month hospital stay. The tracheostomy I had placed damaged my vocal cords and from February '03 to mid August '03 I had no voice and communicated through bells and lip-reading. My voice is now strong enough to begin college forensic competition through my university-UOP. I am really excited to get back into forensics!!

State at OU was an awesome experience both years. A great time with friends and exciting competition. Nationals was an honor...but a little intimidating. Plus, I was exhausted from the 6 day drive and my disease effects my energy level. I got out in the first round and my parents, who came along to help me, made me leave the next day so we could finish packing to move to California. That was my last taste of the speech world...::sigh::...But I will be returning- trach, feeding tube, wheelchair, contractures-and all. I love speech!!!

Christamae

[DCdisco]

I started forensics my sophomore year-skipped novice level- to go straight to qualifying. My first tournament I got first in SO and broke to finals in prose. I fell in love with it. I am a competitive person and love to talk so I found the perfect combination. I have a severe, progressive form of Muscular Dystrophy and use an electric wheelchair full-time so competitive forensics was my first opportunity to fulfill that drive. I made great friends, too. Every tournament I went to that year I medalled in at least one event and broke in at least one other (usually 2 medals-including Champ categories). I took SO (declamation on this site) to State (qualifying 2nd at Regionals). Junior year I at least made finals at every tournament and usually medalled. I did better at the big tournaments, though, getting 2nd in all 4A schools in OK in OO and 4th in all 4A schools in OK in poetry. I also qualified my OO to the 2002 Nationals in North Carolina. That was my last tournament :(. We moved to CA to a school without forensics. Then I had 4 major operations resulting in a 6 1/2 month hospital stay. The tracheostomy I had placed damaged my vocal cords and from February '03 to mid August '03 I had no voice and communicated through bells and lip-reading. My voice is now strong enough to begin college forensic competition through my university-UOP. I am really excited to get back into forensics!!

State at OU was an awesome experience both years. A great time with friends and exciting competition. Nationals was an honor...but a little intimidating. Plus, I was exhausted from the 6 day drive and my disease effects my energy level. I got out in the first round and my parents, who came along to help me, made me leave the next day so we could finish packing to move to California. That was my last taste of the speech world...::sigh::...But I will be returning- trach, feeding tube, wheelchair, contractures-and all. I love speech!!!

Christamae

one word..............wow.

[Chewie]

I was going to make a cripple joke, but that was a **** of a story. Read it.


I started forensics my sophomore year-skipped novice level- to go straight to qualifying. My first tournament I got first in SO and broke to finals in prose. I fell in love with it. I am a competitive person and love to talk so I found the perfect combination. I have a severe, progressive form of Muscular Dystrophy and use an electric wheelchair full-time so competitive forensics was my first opportunity to fulfill that drive. I made great friends, too. Every tournament I went to that year I medalled in at least one event and broke in at least one other (usually 2 medals-including Champ categories). I took SO (declamation on this site) to State (qualifying 2nd at Regionals). Junior year I at least made finals at every tournament and usually medalled. I did better at the big tournaments, though, getting 2nd in all 4A schools in OK in OO and 4th in all 4A schools in OK in poetry. I also qualified my OO to the 2002 Nationals in North Carolina. That was my last tournament :(. We moved to CA to a school without forensics. Then I had 4 major operations resulting in a 6 1/2 month hospital stay. The tracheostomy I had placed damaged my vocal cords and from February '03 to mid August '03 I had no voice and communicated through bells and lip-reading. My voice is now strong enough to begin college forensic competition through my university-UOP. I am really excited to get back into forensics!!

State at OU was an awesome experience both years. A great time with friends and exciting competition. Nationals was an honor...but a little intimidating. Plus, I was exhausted from the 6 day drive and my disease effects my energy level. I got out in the first round and my parents, who came along to help me, made me leave the next day so we could finish packing to move to California. That was my last taste of the speech world...::sigh::...But I will be returning- trach, feeding tube, wheelchair, contractures-and all. I love speech!!!

Christamae

[nirorivers6]

I rember my first national tournament was at the NCFL Tournament in Milawaukee, which was my sophmore year. What impressed me most was the vastness of it. Compettion was allover a college campus, and there was four rounds (i'm accustomed to three) Not to mention our team did all sorts of fun things. I was also really impressed by Duo semis and DP finals.

[Topo]

well lets see, this year me and my duo partner did 2 novice tournaments (he's a freshman, i'm a sophomore) where we got 3rd, and 5th, then our first varisty tourney we got 2nd (and we didn't even change anything from novice...hmm) then his dad was poopy and wouldnt let him compete cuz of his grades....then after a long absence we competed at a varisty tourney where we didnt even break to finals, then at state quals we qualified, second qualifier, then we sucked it up at state, then nat quals comes around we got second qualifier, so we're going to nationals this summer and it will be both our first national tournament. this is both of our first years doing forensics

[Chewie]

Where are you from Topo?

[Topo]

Fort Collins Colorado. i go to Rocky Mountain High School.

[justine]

Like niro, my first away tournament was freshman year at CFLs in Milwaukee. I didn't break to the second day, so I watched 3 rounds of DP and OI finals (that was the event I was in). I remember seeing some mind-blowingly amazing people (Jeff Moscaritola, Jessica Hoffman, Matt Friedman- I'm blanking on other names) that day. Even though I was really disapointed I didn't break I think that watching all those really, really good people kept my moral way up and kicked any notion I would have ever had of quitting forensics.

I also remember meeting all these really cool people from other states. I made my first friend from Mississippi which was really cool, and I got to know tons of other people who I say hi to at away tournaments this year.

I love the atmosphere of national tournaments so much, you (or at least me) just get such a big thrill when you see all the other kids from who knows how far away, and you realize that you're all here trying to do the same thing. It's not so much a competetive feeling but more of a feeling or camaraderie (sp?). It's really exhilerating!

[AfRiCaNHI]

My first national tournament was Villiger. I thought I was hot ****, and then I completely got molested. Then I realize that "this forensics thing" isn't as easy I thought. After that, it was nationals in Boston 2004. I remember hearing the name Natalie Sintek for 6 months-and although I'd never seen her before, and even though she hadn't written down her info yet- when she walked into my second round, I somehow just knew it was her. To this day, she is the most amazing performer of any event I have ever seen.

-Tope

[KY Acid Trip]

My first national tournmanet was 7th grade year.. it was NJFL nationals, ( National Junior Forensics League ) Since it WAS middle school. I made it all the way to finals and placed 3rd in HI. I was ecastatic cause it was my second year of forensics. I think the GREATEST feeling i had was going straight 1's through prelims... it was... an AMAZING feeling ( Then again whenever someone goes straight 1's its amazing ). Then i went to NJFL nationals again in 8th grade, this time placing 4th, i was determined to get better than i did in 7th grade, but hey, somedays you're just not at your best i guess, and besides the people that placed above me deserved it. 9th grade year i didn't go to nats, i wish i would have gone to watch but couldn't. My DUO partner couldn't make NFL Districts which we had a really good chance at qualling in, but hey, i still have 2 more years.

And then, i know its not nationals.

But at state my first two years i made semi finals and was next out for finals both time... which was just amazing.. and then my 8th grade year we basically tied for first in improv duo, we ended up losing by like 1 pt. Then 9th grade year i slacked at state... and then this year i went to semis and went 2 2 5.. needed to be top 2 to go onto to finals.. but hey, we did good.

Wow, i just gave my big tourney forensics bio, taht was fun.

[KrispyKreme]

My first national was Wake Forest in my sophomore year. But it was pretty cool. My team didn't go to many national tournaments before my junior year. Once I became a junior, we went to Harvard, Glenbrooks, Wake, Emory (Barkley Forum)... all of those just about every year since then. We got a seat at the Barkley Forum in my senior year due to "instant success." We place two people in finals in our first year there... I was in oratory and we had a girl who won HI... this was 2004. Such a fun year.