For the fourth straight year, Wildwood Catholic High School’s forensics team has topped all other Camden diocesan schools that field squads in the art of public speaking.
Wildwood Catholic claimed the Bishop’s Cup for most points attained during the regular season of competition and the McGettigan trophy for its first place finish in the Dr. David Coghlan Memorial Forensic League Invitational held on March 21 at Sacred Heart High School, Vineland. Longtime moderator William Waters of the WCHS English department — affectionately known at Wildwood Catholic as the “Coach K” of forensics in tribute to Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski — was especially proud of this year’s team in light of having graduated so many speakers from last year’s team.
“They carried on the tradition here. Their dedication, along with outstanding leadership from our captains, really paid off, “ he said. “Considering how many Wildwood Catholic graduates tend to return to the area in professional positions of leadership, especially in law and education, it’s gratifying to see this group succeed,” he said.
Eight outstanding team members qualified at the Sacred Heart tournament to participate in the Grand National Forensics Tournament to be held Memorial Day weekend in Houston, Texas.
The eight qualifiers and their category of competition are as follows: Jon Schifferdecker (Extemporaneous Speech on current events), Deven Parker (Oral Interpretation of a scene from the novel My Sister’s Keeper), Tyler Clark and Joe Stevenson (Duo Interpretation of the classic Abbott and Costello routine Who’s on First?), Marianne Harlan (Declamation of the persuasive speech Bring on the Cheesecake regarding inner beauty), Morgan Visalli (Original Oratory), Gabriel Arnold (Dramatic Performance), and Patrick Prin (Extemporaneous Speech).
Additional members of the Wildwood Catholic forensics team this year are Victoria D’Amico, Kelly Kulisek, Christina Ohlsen, Olivia McMahon, Anthony Poukish, Cassandra Prickett, Julie Sands, Brittany Toland, Catherine Winans, Alexis Sullivan, Janna Rixey, Robert Matteucci, Jessica Wheaton, Catherine Powers, Tyler Ploof, Brooke Parker, Catie Matteucci, Anne Kelly, and Jeri Anne Gerace.