The Dexter Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Forensics team takes first at districts
PUBLISHED: April 3, 2008
The Dexter High School forensics team includes Nathan Magyar (front row, L-R), Rachel Viola, Sabreen Mansour, Kelly Johnson, Omega Skeenan, Jake Justice (second row), Jamilla Odeh, Emily Van Dusen, Alexis Sobczak, Leyla Yada, Jeanette Gary (third row), Jasmine Injejikian, Amy Jones, Caitlin Carmody, Henry Seeger, Caleb Kruzel (fourth row), Caleb MacKinder, Lucas Hosford and Karl Kumbier.
The Dexter forensics team finished first at districts and will be competing at the Regional Tournament on April 19.
Forensics is a team activity, but like wrestling and swimming, individuals advance to each level of the state elimination series.
"As a group our kids are good, but individually we have some really excellent performers," said Coach Debora Marsh.
Two standouts were seniors Rachel Ariyavatkul and Nathan Magyar.
Ariyavatkul is having her best season with several first-place finishes. Ariyavatkul competes in oratory, which is a persuasive speech category. Her topic warns listeners about the potential harms of social networking sites on the internet.
"She qualified and competed at the National Forensic League Nationals last season, but this is the first season in which she has top finishes at so many tournaments so soon," said Marsh.
Magyar competes in prose interpretation.
"Nathan's piece this year is very challenging," Marsh said. "He chose to do a cutting from Trumbo's 'Johnny Got His Gun.' It's a heart-wrenching piece about a WWII vet who suffered devastating injuries. It's great and I believe that he'll be at NFL Nationals again this year."
This year's team has several successful underclassman as well.
Matt Kaas, a sophomore, is excited about his trophies this year. Kaas competes in impromptu speaking and has done well talking about current events like the 2008 elections and technology in education.
He has been in several final rounds this season and is looking forward to more success this year.
The Michigan Interscholastic Forensic Association rules allow each member school to bring two entries per event to the district competition, up to 28 entries per school.
Dexter had 20 entries at districts this year. Of those 20 entries, 19 advanced and the other was an alternate. The district top finishers include: Jacob Justice in impromptu open; Matt Kaas and Lukas Hosford in impromptu 9/10; Henry Seeger and Amy Jones in sales; Alexis Sobczak and Omega Skeean in informative; Jamila Odeh in extemporaneous speaking; Rachel Ariyavatkul in oratory; Jasmine Injejikian and Sabreen Mansour in broadcast; Jeannette Ganz and Caleb Mackinder in duo; Nathan Magyar and Caleb Kruzel in prose; Rachelle Viola and Leyla Yada in poetry, Karl Kumbier in storytelling open; and Heather Jackson and Emily VanDusen in storytelling 9/10. Kelly Johnson is the alternate in storytelling open.
Several other students joined the team this year, but because of the two entries per event rules, they were unable to participate in the district competition.
Dexter Forensics is partially sponsored by a grant from the Dexter Education Foundation, but is able to compete in tournaments because of parent donations and some fundraising that the team does when it hosts tournaments at the high school.
"It's expensive to run programs like Debate and Forensics and our district doesn't have a line item budget for us," Marsh said. "We need to raise our own funds. Thankfully, the district provides us with transportation to some of our events, but we struggle to keep the program financially viable."
"Dexter is full of talented students who should have the opportunity to compete in academic pursuits as well as athletics. It would be a shame if programs like Debate and Forensics die because of a lack of administrative support. These kids work hard and do well. We have national caliber talent here — we should be proud of them!"
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