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Speech teams conclude national competition with honors
School coaches, front row, from left, Frank Lee Borja, Filmah Buenflor, Celia Jang, and Gospel Trinidad. Back row, from left, Dencio V. Manglona and NFL board chair Harold Easton. (Thomas A. Manglona II)
Sixteen high school competitors representing the CNMI pose for a photo at the National Speech and Debate final rounds hosted at the Overland Park Convention Center. (Thomas A. Manglona II)
Although jet-lagged and fatigued from daylong competition rounds, members of the team representing the islands placed in the top 50 percent of all the state representatives of other school districts.
Mount Carmel School’s Soon Kwon made it to the quarterfinals in the story-telling category. Kwon, a graduating senior, placed in the top 30 in the nation.
“Being in the top 30 people made my blood pump with excitement,” Kwon said. “ I tried my best to see how far I could end up. I hope to see more people make it in the future.”
His speech coach, Filmah Buenaflor, said the caliber of students is extremely high. “To see our students from the island be able to compete at this level is academically profound,” she added.
Other students who earned spots in the top percentage of speech competitors in the nation include Marianas Baptist Academy’s Alina Ishikawa, who made it to round three and the top 200 in poetry reading; Saipan Southern High School’s Devina Atalig, who made it to the third round of prose reading interpretation and the top 230 competitors; and Grace Christian Academy’s Minna Ito, who placed in the top 125 in the expository speech category.
Fellow Grace Christian Academy student Yu Jin Lee qualified for round three of both prose and poetry reading, where she was among the top 230 student competitors in the nation.
Lee, a freshman, placed third overall in the nation in dramatic interpretation under the National Junior Forensic League last year. Her brother, Dong Ha Lee, was also a member of this year’s national team.
Marianas High School’s Jayrald Mercene advanced to round four in the poetry reading category, composed of the top 80 competitors in the nation.
Saipan Southern High School student Katrina Punzalan placed in the top 80 of students in the commentary extemporaneous category, while Marianas High School’s Ann Margaret Norcio earned her spot in the top 80 for prose reading.
MBA coach Gospel Trinidad said, “As a coach it was inspiring to see student’s work come to life. Now that I have more experience, I can better train my students for next year.”
At the end of the five-day tilt, students watched the final rounds at the Overland Park Convention Center, where they also met national champions and top officials of the association.
Another high school competitor, MBA graduating senior Kanata Omori, told Saipan Tribune that the experience was “simply amazing.”
“The best thing that’s happened is the friendships I have made. From creating new ones with new people to strengthening ones with the people on the team. It’s an experience I would love to re-do all over again,” he said.
Fourteen junior high students also competed in the junior category of the national event in Kansas. There, two CNMI students made it to the top 25 student competitors in their respective categories.
Reica Ramirez, an MCS student, and Esther Kim, from GCA, both made it to the quarterfinals in impromptu and poetry reading, respectively.
Ramirez said, “The experience was really fun and interesting.” She added, ”I learned a lot of new things that I can use in the future.”
CNMI Speech and Debate Association board chair Harold Easton, who also received the first Diamond Coach Award (see related story on Page 1), said he is proud of all of the students.
“The accomplishments of the students is amazing. This is a worthwhile experience and a success, considering the huge number of competitors.”
