NKHS forensics team places in district, region, state
New Kent High School’s forensics team capped a successful season with a second place finish in the Bay Rivers District, third in Region I, and fourth in state Group AA.
In the Bay Rivers tournament, Nick English (humorous interpretation), T.J. Otey (dramatic interpretation), and MaryMargaret Walsh (poetry) captured first place. Deylan Smith (dramatic interpretation), Carrie Daniel (storytelling), and Joshua Drake (impromptu) came in second while Laura Smith (original oratory), and Amy Johnson and Samantha Chapman (duo interpretation) placed third.
At the Region I tourney on March 8, English, Walsh, and James Bristow placed first. Otey and Smith earned second while Daniel, Johnson, and Chapman finished third. English, Bristow, Walsh, Otey, and Smith advanced to state.
At the Group AA tourney held April 12 at Harrisonburg High School, New Kent finished fourth out of 38 schools. English took first in the state in humorous interpretation, Walsh won third in poetry, and Otey finished sixth in dramatic interpretation.
During the regular season, New Kent competed in the Peninsula Forensics League winning one first place trophy and two for second place. The team hosted its annual tournament in January where 19 teams competed.
In February, the team placed second in the Large School Division Sweepstakes at Randolph-Henry High School’s Statesman Classic. New Kent also competed in invitational tournaments at Hopewell and Waynesboro.
Kimberlee Brittingham and assistants Harriet VanDyke and Matt Duckworth coach the team. End of season awards went to English for team MVP, Daniel for rookie of the year, and Smith for giving 110 percent.