The Mount Markham Speech & Debate Team had three team members compete this past weekend at the New York State Forensics League’s state championship tournament.
First-year competitors, MacKenzie Roth (senior) and Nicholas Thomas (sophomore), both finished in the top half of their events. Junior Lana Mahar finished preliminaries in 9th place, advancing into a semi-final of the top 12 on Sunday. Coming out of the semi-finals tied for 6th, Lana went into the final round in front of a panel of five judges to finish 2nd in the round and 3rd overall.
There were over 70 schools and 1100 students competing for top honors in a variety of events. Preliminary events on Saturday were held at the Bronx High School of Science and final rounds were held Sunday at Scarsdale High School.
Congratulations to all three students and best of luck to them and fellow team members Leah Coffin, Rebecca McClave and Skylar McConnell as they head to Louisville, Kentucky for nationals at the end of May.
The team and its coaches, Suzanne Culver and Alaina Brower, would like to thank the Mount Markham community for helping make this possible. Without the consistent support of the Mount Markham CSD administrators and the Board of Education, the Mount Markham CSD Foundation, Mount Markham Optimists, West Winfield Rotary, M.O.M.M.S., Mount Markham High School Student Council, Drama Club, the Mount Markham Teachers Association and several generous individuals, this travel would not be possible.