NEWS & HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2007-2008 SEASON

DDF HOLDS BANQUET RECEPTION

March 7, 2008:  HHS DDF closed out the 2007-2008 Season with a banquet at the Fresh Sourdough Bakery, as an opportunity to honor students and coaches for their successes.

RESULTS FROM 2008 STATE COMPETITION

February 27- March 1 (Reprinted in the Homer Tribune):

Twelve students from Homer High School competed in various speaking and drama events with more than 200 hundred students from 20 high schools at the 2008 Alaska State High School Drama, Debate and Forensic State Championship Tournament, held this past weekend at the University of Alaska Anchorage. 

This marks the fourth year that the team has competed at the state championship.  Homer’s DDF veteran Kristen Tonga, who has been on the team for all four years, placed 3^rd in Lincoln Douglas Debate, debating the nationally selected topic Resolved:  Hate crime enhancements are unjust in the United States.  Debaters are required to prepare for both sides of the argument and do not know which side they will be debating until rounds are posted at the tournament.  All debaters participated in 5 preliminary rounds, then advance to quarter finals, semi finals and finals. 

Additionally, Jazz Maltz advanced to final rounds in solo acting, and Patrick Schneider and Dylan Carter placed in the top 10 out of 50 debaters in speaker point awards.

One of Homer’s proudest achievements was securing the sportsmanship award for its third time.  Teams compete for the sportsmanship award by helping to run the tournament, and demonstrating good character during competition.   

“Promoting a spirit of comradery and healthy competition is a major goal of our program at Homer High,” says coach Daniel Westerburg.  “Winning the sportsmanship award for a third year is a testimony to the integrity and character of our students and Homer should be proud.   We are especially proud of Kristen who has been a part of the team since its beginning.  It is rewarding to watch these young adults grow in confidence and character each time they compete, and to know they will take these experiences with them for the rest of their lives.” 

RESULTS FROM BARTLETT HIGH INVITATIONAL

Feburary 8-9:  Homer High School’s Drama Debate and Forensics (DDF) Team competed this past weekend at the Bartlett High School invitational in Anchorage.  Kelsey Waldorf placed 3^rd in original oration.  In addition, Waldorf and her acting partner Jazz Maltz advanced to final rounds in duet acting, and Maltz advanced to the final round of solo acting.  Emerson Quarton also broke into the final round for Extemporaneous Commentary.

 RESULTS FROM DIMOND HIGH INVITATIONAL

January 11 - 12:  Homer High School’s Drama, Debate and Forensics (DDF) team competed at the Dimond High Invitational in Anchorage, and walked away with several distinguished awards, including: 

• Kelsey Waldorf and Jazz Maltz:    1^st place in Duet Acting

• Emerson Quarton:    2^nd place in Extemporaneous Commentary

• Dylan Carter and Cameron Rose:    3^rd place in Duo Interpretation

• Dylan Carter:    4th place in Humorous Interpretation

• Bailey Richards:    2nd place in Dramatic Interpretation

• Dylan Carter and Patrick Schneider:    3^rd place in Public Forum Debate

• Kristen Tonga:    3^rd place in Lincoln Douglas Debate

In addition, Kelsey Waldorf advanced to the final round in original oratory and Kate Spence broke into finals in Humorous Interpretation. 
 

TOURNAMENT RESULTS FROM SERVICE HIGH SCHOOL

December 14-15:  Homer High School’s Drama, Debate and Forensics (DDF) team joined more than 200 students from throughout Southcentral Alaska at the Service High School invitational in Anchorage. Jazz Maltz and Bailey Richards advanced to final rounds in solo acting,with Jazz placing 2nd overall. Jordyn Mayforth won 4th place in humorous interpretation, and the team of Thea Wayne and Lloyd Hamilton tied for 4th place in public form debate.  Congratulations! 

HHS DDF COMPETES AT SKYVIEW

November 16-17:  Homer High's Drama, Debate and Forensics team competed this weekend at Skyview High School, and brought home several well-earned awards:

Solo Acting
Jazz Maltz – 1st
Joanna Coke – 3rd

Humorous Interpretation
Jordyn Mayforth – 3rd

Pantomime
Emerson Quarton, Emily Schneider, Jazz Maltz and Cameron Rose – 1st
Oceana Wills, Jordyn Mayforth, Elyse Carter – 2nd

Reader’s Theater
Katie Spence, Oceana Wills, Joanna Coke, Thea Wayne, and Jordyn Mayforth – 3rd

Extemporaneous Commentary
Heath Emery – 2nd

Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Cameron Rose – 1st
Heath Emery – 2nd
Katie Spence – 3rd

Public Forum Debate
Thea Wayne and Lloyd Hamilton – 2nd
Emily Schneider and Miles Wiebe – 3rd

Policy Debate
Jazz Maltz and Emerson Quarton – 3rd

HOMER DDF COMPETES AT SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL INVITATIONAL

October 26 - 27:  Homer High School's Drama, Debate and Forensics traveled to Anchorage this weekend for the South High School invitational, where students from throughout Southcentral Alaska competed in various public speaking, acting and debate activities. Jazz Maltz was a finalist in Solo Acting, Patrick Schneider advanced to final rounds in Domestic Extemp, and the brother-sister team of Emerson and Ruby Quarton broke into finals in Duo Interpretation. Patrick Schneider placed 4th in Congressional Debate, and Marc Oliver placed 3rd in Lincoln-Douglas Debate.

HOMER HOSTS FIRST DDF TOURNAMENT OF THE SEASON

October 13:  –  Homer High School hosted the first Drama, Debate, and Forensics Tournament of the season, where nearly 50 students from Kenai Peninsula schools competed in various acting, public speaking and debate events. 

TOURNAMENT RESULTS

 Lincoln-Douglas Debate: 
            1^st:  Marc Oliver, Homer
            2^nd:  Cameron Rose, Homer

 Public Forum Debate:
            1^st:  Joanna Coke and Bailey Richards, Homer
            2^nd:  Patrick Schneider and Lloyd Hamilton, Homer
            3^rd:  Kelsey Waldorf and Miles Wiebe, Homer  &
                   Carol Clonan and Annita Braun, Skyview

 Policy Debate: 
            1^st:   Leora Olsen and Tristin Rutherford, Niksiki
            2^nd:  Ben Woodland and Hannah West, Skyview
            3^rd:   Tasha Brown and Chris Nichol, Skyview

Expository Speaking: 
1^st:  Leora Olsen, Nikiski
2^nd:  Alina Eldredge, Nikiski

Extemporaneous Commentary: 
1^st:   Clancy Skipwith, Skyview
2^nd:  Chris Nichol, Skyview
3^rd:   Bethany McMilin, Skyview 

Foreign Extemporaneous Speaking: 
1^st:  Dillon Smith, Nikiski

Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking: 
1^st:  Patrick Schneider, Homer

Dramatic Interpretation: 
            1^st:  Tristin Rutherford, Nikiski
            2^nd:  Kelsey Waldorf, Homer
            3^rd:  Rachel Tyson, Nikiski

 Humorous Interpretation: 

            Tie for 1^st:        Justin Smith, Nikiski &
                                    Andy Gunter, Nikiski &
                                    Jordyn Mayforth, Homer
            2^nd:  Tyler Bethune, Nikiski
            3^rd:  Bethany McMilin, Skyview

 Duo Interpretation: 

            1^st:   Justin Smith and Tyler Bethune, Nikiski
            2^nd:  Kayleen Hansen and Caitlin Reid, Nikiski

 Solo Acting: 

            1^st:  Erin Edgmon, Niksiki  
            2^nd:  Alina Eldredge, Nikiski

Duet Acting:  

1^st:  Stephanie Post and Morgan Post, Skyview
            2^nd:  Cheyenne White and Angela Anderson, Nikiski
            3^rd:  Kaleene Tressler and Jessica Thomas, Skyview

 Reader’s Theater: 

            1^st:   Justin Smith, Tyler Bethune, and Rachel Tyson, Nikiski
            2^nd:   Patrick Schneider, Marc Oliver, Jordyn Mayforth, Joanna Coke, and Elyse Carter, Homer

 Pantomime: 

            1^st:   Alina Eldredge and Caitlin Reid, Nikiski
            2^nd:  Bailey Richards and Joanna Coke, Homer
            3^rd:  Kayleen Hansen, Cheyenne White and Angela Anderson, Niksiki