Education

The Bob Jones Academy Speech and Debate Team competed in the South Carolina Forensic Coaches Association State Tournament hosted by Riverside High School in Greer, South Carolina, March 4-5. The Academy team competed against Class 4A and 5A public schools. Over 30 BJA students advanced to the final rounds in their categories. BJA had six students named state champions. Overall, the BJA team is the 1A state champion school, a title held since 2007, and second overall in the state.

The following students excelled at the tournament:

Lincoln Douglas Debate

            6^th place – Madigan Lawlor of Easley

            2^nd place and Best Novice in the state – AJ Meissner of Greenville

            STATE CHAMPION – Cayden Meissner of Greenville

Original Oratory

            6^th place – Mikayla Sprout of Taylors

            STATE CHAMPION – Ian Hamrick of Simpsonville

Extemporaneous Speaking

            STATE CHAMPION – Will Goff of Greer

Impromptu Speaking

            4^th place – Abella Edwards of Inman

            STATE CHAMPION – Will Goff of Greer

Declamation

            6^th place – Erin Droddy of Simpsonville

            5^th place – Ethan Cancino of Taylors

            3^rd place – Abigail Garner of Greenville

            2^nd place – Grace Trotter of Greenville

            STATE CHAMPION and Best Novice – Ari Snyder of Simpsonville

Duo Interpretation

            4^th place – Nathan Townsend and Livie Hotchkiss of Greenville

            STATE CHAMPIONS – Ian Hamrick of Simpsonville and Bella Sanders of Fountain Inn

Children’s Literature

            6^th place – Elijah Cropsey of Greenville

            2^nd place – Ari Snyder of Simpsonville

Dramatic Interpretation

            2^nd place – Arianna Jenks of Mauldin

Expository Speaking

            2^nd – Lyvia Miller of Greenville

Humorous Interpretation

            3^rd place – Nathan Townsend of Greenville

            2^nd place – Josiah Pait of Greenville

Informative Speaking

            2^nd place – Maria Smith of Taylors

Novice Reading

            3^rd place – Lyvia Miller of Greenville

            2^nd place – Grace Trotter of Greenville

Poetry Interpretation

            6^th place – Jackson Rodman of Greenville

            4^th place – Nathan Townsend of Greenville

            3^rd place – Grace Trotter of Greenville

Program Oral Interpretation

            4^th place – Jimmy Chisholm of Greenville

Prose Interpretation

            6^th place – Anna Kate Cain of Greenville

            4^th place – Abigail Garner of Greenville