Mattawan Ends the Season

What: Wildcat Invitational
Where: Mattawan HS
When: Saturday March 25
Leave City: 6:30 a.m.

The Invitational Season will close in a fairly big way this Saturday, when we go to Mattawan. Let's face it, the time is really ugly. Mattawan is an hour away, and registration closes at 7:45, so we need to be on the road no later than 6:30 or so. Ouch!

You know what that means: plan to sleep in the car, or better yet, get to bed early.

How big is the tournament? Mattawan can be pretty big, usually a little smaller than Portage, but bigger than Holland. And yes, it will be competitive. As we discovered last week, Holland and GR Christian now have most of their pieces up and running -- and this will be the tournament right before they have their Districts, so they'll be sharp.

What can you do? practice practice practice. This is a great time to get your piece sharp for Monday's District Tournament.

So who's going?

Extemp: Michael Schafer, John Barbatano, Reggie Pell
Impromptu: Sarah Oliai
Informative: Colin Tokarek, Zoe Kilbourne, Nathan Ritsema
Oratory Open: Noha Moustafa, Robby Saldana
Oratory 09/10: Rachel Schrotenboer
Sales: Ashley Dykema, Gerald Polanco
Broadcast: Andrew Hopewell
Dramatic Interp: Molly Zigler, Alisa Stone, Marjorie Biel
Poetry: Michelle Steffens, Ashley Nathan, Adara Nielsen
Duo: Wilson/Quinn, Vandenberg/Corriveau, Rajala/Ickowski
Prose Open: Sarah Nota
Prose 9/10: Frances Bonarski, Monique Quinn
Storytelling: Doug Smith, Kelsey Perdue
Multiple: Duck Soup, Deep End of the Ocean

The End Is in Sight

A lot of preparation, and a lot of work have been invested, and next week Monday we begin to leave it behind.

Monday, March 27 is our District Tournament, the first step on the way to the State Tournament in Ypsilanti, May 5 and 6. Of course, before we get there we have Mattawan, the last big invitational.

But in any case, if you have been feeling a little run over, a little frantic, a little worn out by the constant Saturdays -- take heart we're coming to the end.

Off to Wayne State!

Middle School, that is.

MIFA has just announced that the this spring's middle school tournament will be held at Wayne State University in Detroit. This is exciting for a couple of reasons. First, it is a neutral site; second it is a university campus -- that naturally makes it a little more fun. And besides this will be the first time that Wayne State has hosted, so it should be interesting.

We will be competing by Manoogian Hall, this is on the corner of Warren and the Lodge Freeway (if you check it out on Mapquest). Here's a map.

The biggest impact of the site will be the drive time -- this is about a 2-1/2 hour trip instead of the usual 2 hr trip to Ann Arbor.
Tentative schedule:
Leave City at 6:30
Arrive WSU 9:00-9:30 (depending on where we stop)
Return to City 9:00 pm.




We will be organizing driving, meals etc. later this month.

OK Conference this Wednesday

After a lot of back and forth with the computer registration (it was down most of the day Sunday), we have our numbers -- boy! do we ever need judges (Hint: parents, if you would like to see Forensics up close, there's no better way than being a judge. Good news: you'll never judge your own child). If you would like to judge, please contact myself, Ms Peterson or Ted Bonarski.

The OK is smaller so not quite as intesnes as the big week tournaments. Still, it gives a real challenge. And City High is sending a lot of students. Here is who w have going -- remember if you are signed up and cannot make it, please let us know as soon as possible.

Extemp -- John Barbatano
Impromptu -- Sara Oliai
Oratory -- Noha Moustafa
Oratory 9/10 -- Riet Groenleer
Informative -- Colin Tokarek, Zoe Kilbourne
Sales -- Ashley Dykema

Dramatic Interp -- Molly Zigler, Alisa Stone
Prose Open -- Zoe Ashmead, Frances Bonarski
Prose 9/10 -- Monica Quinn
Poetry -- Ashley Nathan
Duo -- Wilson/Quinn, Bowman/Vredeveldt
Storytelling -- Doug Smith , Andrew Hopewell
Mutliple: Deep End of the Ocean

Duo Win and Dancing Top MCCIE

Last Saturday, the Mason County Central Individual Events tournament launched City High's Forensics program.

The event was small, and most competitors were competing for the first time. But there was lots of fun and as you can see, plenty of gilt plastic to go around.

The big winners for City were the duo of Max Gilles and Yefei Jin, who performed their NFL piece, Babel in Arms, by David Ives. The judges loved it. Gilles/Jin tied for a first. Way to go!

Other winners were Frances Bonarski and Zoe Ashmead who took 2nd and 3rd in Prose 9/10. John Barbatano had some very stiff competition -- himself. As the only extemper, he spoke three times for 100s all around!

Of course it was not all competition. Some just went along for the ride:

And afterwards, thanks to the MCC jazz band, some even danced. Way to go Rachel and Yefei!

Welcome to the Century Club

With the MCCIE we open up the Century Club. Here are the names of all those who who have scored 100 in a round. This is the start. Keep watching this post to see the names and numbers grow.

Frances Bonarski, Prose, (2); Max Gilles, Duo (3); Yefei Jin, Duo (3), John Barbatano, Extemp (3)

Portage Northern, March 11

What:Menchinger Huskie Invitational
Where: Portage Northern High School
When: Saturday, March 11
Time: 6:45 am -- 9:00 pm
Travel: Carpool

This is the Big One, one of the longest-lasting tournaments in the State: 31 years!

Portage draws competitors form across the State, usually including several of the east side schools. That means the competition is not only stiff, but often gives us a chance to get a feel for what others are doing in the Detroit area.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary last year, they handed out door prizes. This year? Well, it was such a good thing, they're doing it again.

The day will be a long one, so you may want to bring a change of clothing -- especially those of you in PA who want to get out of your "uniform."

Food: They have a cafeteria line for lunch (although many like bringing their own food). Afterwards we will stop at Fazolis for some very cheap Italian; read the critiques, then get home around 9 pm.

So who is signed up? We have a full complement (and likely, more to come):

Extemp -- Michael Schafer, John Barbatano
Informative -- Colin Tokarek, Zoe Kilbourne
Oratory Open -- Noha Moustafa
Oratory 9/10 -- Riet Groenleer, Reggie Pell, Rachel Schrotenboer †
Dramatic Interp -- Molly Zigler
Duo -- Wilson/Quinn, Reams/Kleinschmidt, Ickowski/Rajala*
Multiple -- Deep End of the Ocean, Duck Soup
Poetry -- Michelle Steffens, Adara Nielsen†
Storytelling -- Helen Craig, Helen Beelen, Andrew Hopewell, Kelsey Perdue†, Doug Smith
Prose 9/10 -- Zoe Ashmead, Frances Bonarski, Monique Quinn

* - first time this year, † - first time ever