Shivani Vohra is 2009 National Champion
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — In the final round of perhaps the most competitive season in the history of Lincoln-Douglas debate, the Hockaday School’s Shivani Vohra and Trinity Preparatory School’s Jake Nebel met to vie for the championship title of the National Forensic League. In finals, Shivani defeated Jake to win. This was a historic accomplishment for Hockaday for multiple reasons.
Only one other school has ever had two National Champions in Lincoln-Douglas debate. No other school has ever had three consecutive finalists. (In this case, National Champion Taarini Vohra in 2007, runner-up Joan Gass in 2008, and National Champion Shivani Vohra in 2009.) And, as you might have guessed, no other family has produced two Lincoln-Douglas debate National Champions.
The only other school to have National Champions in Lincoln-Douglas debate is Vestavia Hills High School. Claire Carman won the title in 1994; Allison Picket won the title in 1998. They were coached by Marilee Dukes. (Carman — now Claire Carman Redding — was one of the judges in today’s final round.)
Shivani is coached by Stacy Thomas, Tom Evnen, and Andy Werner; Jake Nebel is coached by Petey Gil-Montllor, Michael Vigars, Dean Rhoads, and Darcy Butrimas.
The critics for the final round were Craig Austin of Centennial High School in California, Stan Austin of Wheaton North in Illinois, Rick Farrar of Lincoln Financial Group, Vicki Fellers of Wichita East High School in Kansas, Victor Jih of the Brentwood School in California, Bill Jordan of Glendale High School in Missouri, 1988 National Champion Anoop Mishra (formerly of Homewood High School in Alabama), the aforementioned 1994 National Champion Claire Carman Redding (formerly of Vestavia Hills High School in Alabama), Jeff Roberts of Mountain Brook High School in Alabama, Michael Traas of Appleton East in Wisconsin, David Watkins of Neosho High School in Missouri, David Wozniak of Lincoln Financial Group, and Pam Cady Wycoff of Apple Valley High School in Minnesota.
I am in the process of compiling the names of all the award winners.
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Posted from: 98.14.255.196
June 19th, 2009 23:15
There are many people to congratulate, and I will begin with the two finalists in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
Congratulations to Shivani and Jake on a wonderful conclusion to two wonderful careers.
Many congratulations to my friends on the coaching staffs of both Hockaday and Trinity Prep. You should be very proud.
Shivani, you are the proof that Hockaday continues as a force to be reckoned with. I am floored by the fact that a single school has had finalists in three consecutive years — and I promise to check on this, but Hockaday may in fact be the only school to have three finalists, period — but I am not at all surprised that you made it to finals. Winning over the most diverse set of top judges assembled each year is an absolutely incredible achievement and takes a lot of talent…talent which you have displayed throughout your career. Congratulations to you and to the entire Vohra family, the only family ever to produce two National Champions in Lincoln-Douglas debate!
Jake, finals at NFLs and semifinals at the TOC were a wonderful conclusion to what I believe was the most successful regular-season career in the history of our activity. You have won the titles of the Glenbrooks (twice), Greenhill (twice), Emory, Harvard (including an unprecedented three varsity final round appearances AND the J.V. championship as a freshman), MBA, the Florida State Tournament, and, of course, the New York City Invitational and the Bronx Round Robin…not to mention numerous other top speaker awards and titles. It goes without saying that only an immense talent capable of persuading a tremendous array of could judges could achieve such a record. What a tremendous, tremendous career from an incredibly modest (and intelligent) person.
More congratulations to come.
Posted from: 12.184.183.179
June 19th, 2009 23:26
this girl was SICKNASTY! she totally rocked the final…hardcore. nebel held his own too, you go boy! tre awesome final. congrats!
love,
vohrafan265
Posted from: 68.117.247.229
June 19th, 2009 23:28
What was the decision?
Posted from: 209.240.89.108
June 19th, 2009 23:43
yes what was the decision i thought nebel would win
Posted from: 98.198.172.6
June 20th, 2009 00:11
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=46386172297&ref=ts
nuff said.
Posted from: 69.110.19.197
June 20th, 2009 00:48
The decision was 10-3
Posted from: 12.187.249.130
June 20th, 2009 01:02
congrats to shivani and jake.
very impressive, hockaday.
Posted from: 68.117.247.229
June 20th, 2009 01:03
Wow! congrats to both, but i tlkd to some there and they were convinced Nebel won, but whats done is done and it sounded like both debated extremely well!
Posted from: 97.65.12.207
June 20th, 2009 06:36
CONGRATULATIONS to Shivani and Jake, and to both of the amazing coaching staffs and teams at Hockaday and Trinity. You two are both absolutely iconic figures and have taught all of us so much over the years. I very much doubt I am alone in saying that you each have given a lot to activity already and I look forward (and hope) that you all stay involved as you move forward in life.
I also wanted to (not so) briefly thank and congratulate the five Whitman debaters – Ellen, David, Jacob, Drew, and Tom – who completed their career at NFL Nationals this week. You will be missed.
In particular, Ellen, David, and Jacob, you three were my very first LD students at Whitman. I still very fondly remember meeting with you all for our first practice and then coming home and being interviewed by Cruz for VBD and feeling very excited about high school debate and the new challenge at Whitman. Well, you have done it. You have been true role models. While I start getting teary-eyed like a Taylor Swift song on repeat when I think about you all leaving, I am so proud of the young people you have become. Coaching at Whitman will never be the same without Hansel and Gretel, but I want you all to know that you all are the kind of debaters and people that make people want to volunteer to support this activity. Thank you for everything.
Posted from: 71.175.254.230
June 21st, 2009 01:10
Congrats jake your a awesome debater. Youve had a career that people can only dream and workhard to have a shot at acheving. You didnt come through this time, but even getting into the finals for a shot to come through is remarkable. id hope i could be as sucessful as you were. Be proud you did excellent you have nothing to be ashamed of.
Also congraulations to Shivani
Posted from: 76.197.15.2
June 21st, 2009 23:43
is shivani a senior?
Posted from: 98.14.255.196
June 22nd, 2009 09:40
Shivani is a senior.