Notes from a Friar: 10 Ways to Be Thankful hubs.la/Q02ZfRdv0

Kansas 6A championship broadcast on NFHS is like watching a cartoon flipbook...constant glitching. Meanwhile, every small-town YouTube broadcast all season has been flawless. Let's figure it out.

Policy Debate closed the regular season at Tonganoxie on Saturday. Congrats to Isabella O and Paige S for taking 4th place. Next stop: the Regional Tournament!

SJA Policy Debate qualified for the 5A KSHSAA 4-Speaker Debate tournament today. This is the first time that SJA has qualified debaters for both the 4-Speaker and 2-Speaker tournament. Both tournaments are in Garden City on January 17 & 18. Woot Go Thunder!

Kansas Debate Classic snowed out? Heck no! This is one of the premier tournaments in Kansas. It flipped to Zoom debate and we're in our basements. (MrWalberg really liked the commute today. Sure beats a 6:00 AM bus time)

You know what was fun? This was fun. We were "clapped out" of SJA on our way to the KSHSAA state debate tournament. Go Thunder!

Policy Debate wrapped up its WINNINGEST SEASON at the KSHSAA State Tournament. In 2-Speaker, Paige and Isabella finished near the middle of the field of 35 entries. In 4-Speaker, Bella, Will, Gabby, & Vivian S. finished tied for 4th place. It was a good season. Go Thunder.

With Policy Debate season ending last week, we switch from the intensity of policy to the kinetic energy of forensics season. Hold on tight, S&D'ers!

Hey yo! Winter debate season opened tonight at Shawnee Mission South SMS Speech & Debate. Five medals on the first night! Novice Lincoln-Douglas debate: 7th Joselyn W, 5th Brady A, 4th Gabby G, 1st Vivian S. Open Lincoln-Douglas: 3rd Lucas F. Great start! Go Thunder!

Results from Shawnee Mission South: Carlie C. & Clara K. took 3rd in Duo Interp. Andrew C. took 3rd in Humorous Interp and Dramatic Interp. Lucas F. took 4th in Humorous Interp. Several other good ballots and nice prelims across the roster this weekend. Go Thunder!

We have a partial squad competing today at Olathe South, with all three Thunder forensicators in finals across 5 entries. Let's goooooo!

We had a big weekend at the @PaolaHighSchool Forensics Invitational, picking up 11 medals in 6 events, including 1st Place GOLD MEDAL WINNERS Carlie C in "Original Oratory", and Carlie and Clara K in "Real IDA". Woot! This is an artist's rendering of the medalists.

We were at two meets today. At Baeshor-Linwood, Keni and Aubrey took 6th in Duo, while Sophia took 6th in H.I. and 4th in D.I. At Lawrence High, Clara and Carlie took 2nd in Duo, while Clara was also a first place GOLD MEDAL CHAMPION in Humorous Interp. Woot!