FSHS forensics teams pick up more victories

For those not involved in an activity such as forensics, it it hard to measure to what degree a team is having success.

When one reads that a squad puts 12 events into finals, that sounds great but with no reference point it is hard to say just how impressive. So, for those wondering if the Tigers' weekend was impressive ... it was more than that!

The Fort Scott forensic team traveled in two directions again last weekend, competing at Olathe Northwest and Southeast-Cherokee high schools. At Olathe, where the Tigers were the only 4A school competing, the squad exploded with achievements. Where a team that is winning a tournament may put anywhere from eight to 15 events into finals, Fort Scott bombarded the competition with 32 finalists.

Once in finals, the squad finished strong, winning eight of the 11 events and finishing second in the remaining three.

"I have done this activity for a lot of years and have never been part of something like this," FSHS coach Brian Weilert said. "Our squad's hard work and competitive nature erupted this weekend. The scary part is that we were missing three or four of our top performers. Plus, we really are not at the top level of where we will get to in the weeks to come. I always preach that the competition is not the other teams, but yourself; pursue being at your best because if you are not, then you are failing.

"The medals and trophies are just side issues and not the goal; the pursuit of individual excellence is the goal and the medals and trophies just sort of happen."

The weekend's success did not end there as the Tigers competed at Southeast with an all-novice squad. Unlike other activities where first-year competitors may compete at the freshman or junior-varsity level, forensics has no such levels.

"The moment you compete at your first tournament, you are varsity and going head-to-head against four-year seniors," Weilert said. "This fact is what makes the success at Southeast so impressive. I had told them that as Fort Scott forensicators they needed to carry themselves as winners and expect to compete. I didn't want to hear that they were first-year students and neither did the judges. I told them the judges don't know them and as far as they could guess, you could be the defending state champions at that event. They took it to heart and did what I knew they could."

The young Tigers pushed six events into finals on their way to a second place overall sweepstakes finish, just 12 points out of first place.

-- Submitted by FSHS Debate and Forensics Coach Brian Weilert