Congratulations to the Little Rock Central Speech and Debate Team for their record-shattering performance at the 2024 Arkansas Speech and Debate Championship this past weekend, hosted on our beautiful campus and staffed and directed by Little Rock Central coaches.
LRCH Speech and Debate WON 11 STATE TITLES this weekend and earned over $5,000 in Speech and Debate Camp Scholarships for placing first and being finalists in so many events.
Our 2024 Arkansas State Champions are:
1. Senior Kevin Durden - Varsity Congressional Debate (2x State Champion);
Kevin also received the Presiding Officer Award for chairing the Final Round of the State Championship;
2. and 3. Senior Charlie Swan - Varsity Lincoln Douglas Debate AND Top Speaker;
4. Seniors Jack Baker and Jackson Mills - Varsity Policy Debate (2x State Champions);
5. Senior Jackson Mills - Varsity Policy Debate Top Speaker;
6. Senior Joie Willoughby - Poetry Interpretation;
7. Senior Amy Okanume - Prose Interpretation;
8. Senior Joie Willoughby and Sophomore Isabelle Elkins - Duo Interpretation;
9. Sophomore Cameron Simmons - Novice Lincoln Douglas AND Top Speaker;
10. Freshmen Genny Batcheller and Alvin Wu AND Jack Liu and Sophomore Eric Tang - Novice Policy Debate (Co-Champions);
11. Freshman Genny Batcheller - Novice Policy Debate Top Speaker.
We also placed in Finals of the following events!
Senior Rose Walters - 2nd Place Varsity Congress;
Junior Kendall Cloar - 3rd Place Varsity Congress;
Senior Joie Willoughby - 3rd Place Dramatic Interpretation, Finalist Humorous Interpretation;
Junior Kaneeka Chakraborty - 3rd Place Varsity Lincoln Douglas;
Sophomore Aki Narravula - 4th Place Novice Lincoln Douglas Speaker;
Seniors Joey Leenhouts and Brady Chandler - 2nd Place Varsity Policy Debate;
Senior Jack Baker - 2nd Place Varsity Policy Speaker;
Senior Joey Leenhouts - 3rd Place Varsity Policy Speaker;
Senior Ethan Davenport - Finalist Varsity Congress;
Senior Blake Davenport - Finalist Varsity Congress;
Senior Amy Okanume - Finalist Poetry Interpretation;
Sophomore Isabelle Elkins - Finalist Poetry Interpretation;
Freshman Alvin Wu - 2nd Place Novice Policy Speaker;
Sophomore Eric Tang - 3rd Place Novice Policy Speaker;
Freshman Jack Liu - 4th Place Novice Policy Speaker;
Senior Brady Chandler - 4th Place Varsity Policy Speaker;
Juniors Ayoka Boaitey, Blanche Finzer, Sophomore Amol Kattaria, Sophomore Caitlin Cheng, Freshman Shimaz Hoque, and Freshman Rose Matheny - Policy Debate Semifinalists
Our team heads right into the National Championship in Lexington, KY this weekend. We have worked hard for this moment for four years with our qualified seniors, and we appreciate the support you all have shown us throughout this season.