In the Caldwells: Forensic Team Finishes First in Tournament

On Saturday, April 25, ten students from Grover Cleveland Middle School (GCMS) in Caldwell participated in the Carol Geers Memorial Forensic Tournament at Livingston High School, returning with 14 individual trophies and earning first place overall in both Declamation and Interpretive Reading.

Designed to get students interested in public speaking and to award those who show excellence in speech, the competition, which is run and judged by experienced “forensicators” who compete in both speech and debate at either a state or national level, also enhances students’ public speaking knowledge and skill, according to a release.

“Practicing to compete in both declamation and interpretive reading during a single competition takes a lot of dedication and hard work,” stated Claudia Douris, teacher and forensic team coach. “The students work very hard to perfect their performances, memorizing and practicing for months at a time. This was a tough competition against very talented opponents from a variety of other school districts, and all of our students rose to the challenge.”

Representing GCMS were sixth graders Cate Backfish, Isabella Camerino, Sarah Nichols, and Anna Torok; seventh graders Chloe Cordasco, Sam Mulick and Connor Padover; and eighth graders DeeAnna Meluso, Jessica Rizzo, Nicole Tanelli and Julia Tuck. Mulick and Tuck placed first in each of their respective categories, and the team brought home 14 trophies in all, leading them to an overall first place district finish. Trophy awards also went to Backfish, Camerino, Cordasco, Meluso, Nichols, Padover, Rizzo and Tanelli.

Photo courtesy of Christine Corliss

Photo caption: Pictured with forensic coach Claudia Douris, from left, Isabel Camerino, Sarah Nicols, Anna Torok, Julia Tuck, DeeAnna Meluso, Nicole Tanelli, and Jessica Rizzo. Missing from the photo are Cate Backfish, Chloe Cordasco, Sam Mulick and Connor Padover.

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