7 Brentwood Academy Students Qualify for National Tournament

Brentwood Academy

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The Brentwood Academy speech and debate team competed at the Tennessee National Qualifying Tournament in Clarksville on March 4 and 5. Brentwood Academy had more national qualifiers (seven qualifiers, three alternates) than any other team in the state, and was awarded Speech Team Sweepstakes Champions for the fourth year in a row. BA won five of the eight events, and earned half of the qualifying slots for the entire state in speech events—nine qualifying slots out of 18.

Students will represent Brentwood Academy and the state of Tennessee at the National Speech and Debate Association Tournament, the world’s largest academic competition, in Salt Lake City in June.

BA Students to National Tournament-2

Individual qualifiers and their categories for competition include:

  • Maddie Jarrard and Katherine Nesbitt in original oratory
  • Cooper Smith and Grace Smith in humorous interpretation
  • Kayla Williamson in programmed oral interpretation
  • ooper Smith and Brandon Black in duo interpretation
  • Brandon Black and Emmy Hickman in dramatic interpretation
  • Maddie Jarrard in informative speaking

Maddie Jarrard is a four-year national qualifier. She is the only senior in the state of Tennessee to qualify in speech all four years. The team is coached by BA faculty member Ryan Hubbard, who was recognized earlier this year at the George Mason University tournament with the Mason Mentor Award for excellence in speech and debate instruction.

Photo: Brentwood Academy National Speech qualifiers are (left to right) Kayla Williamson, Katherine Nesbitt, Maddie Jarrard, Brandon Black, Cooper Smith, Grace Smith and Emmy Hickman.

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