Douglas speech and debate headed for nationals

Seven members of the Douglas High School speech and debate team have qualified for the national tournament this June, but they're looking for donations to help them get there.

Team coach Paul Mileo said the students will need about $7,000 for entry fees, airfare and lodging, among other things.

The tournament is in Birmingham, Ala., from June 14-19.

"They've worked hard, and they deserve it," Mileo said at the high school on Wednesday. "We did not expect to qualify this many students, but with this kind of success, there comes great cost."

Mileo and fellow coach Brian McNulty had nothing but praise for their 15 students. The team as a whole just received the second-place grand sweepstakes award for their cumulative performance throughout the year.

"We're continuing to grow in numbers," said Mileo. "Last year, we got third overall, and this year second. We're creeping up."

Other sweepstakes awards garnered by the team include second place in policy debate, second place in Lincoln-Douglas debate, and first place in expository.

But where team members really excelled this year was at the district tournament in Reno on April 16-18. Douglas earned more spots in the national tournament than any other school in Northern Nevada.

"We've been doing very well," said McNulty. "Most of the kids are juniors. Hopefully, we'll see a good competition at nationals, then take it home and win next year."

Mileo described the national tournament as a convergence of more than 100 districts from throughout the country, gathered in Birmingham for three days, to compete in 11 separate events, with more than 200 entries in each event.

"There will be five different venues," he said. "It's so large that they have to spread it out all over Birmingham."

The magnitude of the event, though, doesn't intimidate members of the Douglas team.

"I don't get nervous," said 16-year-old Kevin Kendrick. "I'm super excited. It's going to be fun."

Kendrick, who qualified for nationals last year, will be competing in the humorous interpretation category, performing a parody called, "Law & Order: Fairy Tale Unit."

"It's basically like a one-person play," he said.

Juniors Evan Kleiner and Will Dornbrook, teammates in the policy debate category, were undefeated at the district tournament, but will face some tough competitors in Alabama.

"I've never been to nationals before," said Kleiner. "I'm pretty excited."

The duo will be debating alternative energy policy.

They've already chosen their own policy plan, focusing on converting abandoned industrial sites, known as "brown fields," into alternative energy plants and green manufacturers.

"I'm not quite sure what to expect," said Dornbrook.

Other students that qualified for nationals are Nolan Nicholson for domestic extemporaneous, Noah O'Connor for foreign extemporaneous, Clara Ritger for original oratory, and younger sister Amelia Ritger for dramatic interpretation.

The students are organizing a fundraiser at Ben & Jerry's in Reno, and will also be selling ice cream at Carson Valley Days; but they'll still need help.

Donations are tax deductible and can be made at the front desk of Douglas High School.

For more information, contact Mileo at (775) 220-9539 or e-mail mileop@gmail.com.