Nickerson forensics team finishes third at state tournament

Nickerson Forensics - L to R: Assistant Coach Bailey Brewer, Head Coach Bethany Jenkins, Haley McGill (Sr), Aziza Tuichieva (Sr), Alec Brown (Sr), Will Barkley (So), Ellery Stapleton (So), Pollyann Frank (Fr), Abby Dater (So) - Photo courtesy Bethany Jenkins

The Nickerson High School forensics team made school history at the 3A state tournament held May 2-3 at Maize High School, bringing home a team trophy for the first time since records began in the 1980s.

Competing with a full slate of 16 entries across just seven students, the Panthers placed third overall in the state, earning 287 sweepstakes points — the highest total during the current seniors’ tenure.

In Lincoln-Douglas debate on Friday, senior Haley McGill and sophomore Ellery Stapleton both advanced to the semifinal round after defeating Lyons debaters. In a Nickerson-versus-Nickerson final, McGill took first place and Stapleton placed second.

Lincoln-Douglas competitors Ellery Stapleton (So) and Haley McGill (Sr) - Photo courtesy Bethany Jenkins

Saturday’s speech events saw all seven students compete: freshman Pollyann Frank (Poetry, Program of Oral Interpretation); sophomores Will Barkley (Informative, Poetry, Impromptu), Abby Dater (Humorous Solo, Prose), and Stapleton (Informative, Extemporaneous Speaking); and seniors Alec Brown (Informative, Extemporaneous Speaking, Impromptu), McGill (Original Oration, Extemporaneous Speaking, Impromptu), and Aziza Tuichieva (Informative).

Eleven entries advanced to semifinals, with four concluding their state runs there. Stapleton finished 10th in Extemporaneous Speaking, McGill was 10th in Impromptu, and Barkley placed 9th in Poetry and 7th in Informative.

Nickerson Forensics - L to R: Head Coach Bethany Jenkins, Aziza Tuichieva (Sr), Haley McGill (Sr), Alec Brown (Sr), Assistant Coach Bailey Brewer - Photo courtesy Bethany Jenkins

Seven entries moved on to the final round. Barkley placed 6th in Impromptu; McGill was 6th in Oration and 3rd in Extemporaneous; Tuichieva earned 2nd in Informative; and Brown claimed 2nd in Extemporaneous and 1st place in both Informative and Impromptu.

“At the beginning of the season I gave the team three goals,” Bethany Jenkins, Head Coach said. “We wanted to qualify as many kids for state as possible, get a full state entry despite our small numbers, and contend for a state trophy. The kids really met every single goal this season.”

Nickerson Forensic finalists, L to R: Aziza Tuichieva (Sr), Haley McGill (Sr), Will Barkley (So), Alec Brown (Sr)

Seven of the nine team members qualified for state. The 16th entry was secured at the final regular-season tournament, and the Panthers edged out Halstead — who had beaten them at league — for the third-place finish.

“To say I’m proud would be an understatement,” Jenkins added.