Honors and Awards
Photos from Recent Tournaments
Photos from recent tournaments can be found on our photo gallery page. Visit and share!
Greg Cook, left, senior coach at Riverside High School, congratulates Bill Evans on his District Coach of the Year Award, which he received during the district tournament in March 2024.
National Results Over the Years
South Carolina schools have had much success at the national tournament. Here are some highlights from past years.
2023 NSDA Nationals
The 2023 National Tournament was in Phoenix, Arizona.
2022 NSDA Nationals
The 2022 National Tournament was in Louisville, Kentucky.
2021 NSDA Nationals
The 2021 National Tournament was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hall of Fame: Gail Nicholas
The highest honor for any high school speech and debate coach is election to the National Speech & Debate Association Hall of Fame. Each year, nominations are sought from member coaches. In the month of April, current Hall of Fame members and coaches with at least three diamonds vote to determine which nominees will be elected members of this most distinguished body.
Gail earned her NSDA membership in 1985, and in December 2018, earned her fifth diamond award, joining her husband, Chuck, at that rare coaching level. Students from her school have qualified for 24 National Tournaments, including two NSDA national champions. She has served as district chair of South Carolina for more than 18 years, earning the Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. Gail advocates for speech and debate, runs tournaments and works with coaches to help build programs at the state level. At the national level, she has become a fixture in the tab room where she has worked for decades. Gail has received 12 distinguished service plaques, has served on the ad-hoc committee that authored the NSDA Coaches Code of Ethics and is a recipient of the Ralph E. Carey Leadership Award.
2020 NSDA Nationals
The 2020 National Tournament was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2019 NSDA Nationals
The 2019 National Tournament was in Dallas, Texas.
2018 NSDA Nationals
The 2018 National Tournament was in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
School Awards
Riverside High School was named a School of Outstanding Distinction for the team’s performance at the 2018 National Speech & Debate Tournament. The award is the highest honor that a school can earn at the national tournament and requires competitive excellence in both speech and debate events.
Main Events
Dramatic Interpretation — 7th Place: Chase Garrett, Southside High School
International Extemporaneous Speaking: 11th Place — Julia Murray, Riverside High School
Dramatic Interpretation — Quarterfinalist: Phillip Martin, Riverside High School
Duo Interpretation — Quarterfinalists: Kobe Watts and Bryce Watts, Southside High School
Program Oral Interpretation — Quarterfinalist: Sooruj Bhatia, Riverside High School
Informative Speaking — Quarterfinalist: Ian Chiu, Riverside High School
Informative Speaking — Octafinalist: Colleen Phan, Bob Jones Academy
Original Oratory — Quarterfinalist: Mit Patel, Riverside High School
U.S. Extemporaneous Speaking — Quarterfinalist: Michael Gallagher, Riverside High School
Lincoln Douglas Debate — first break with 8-4 records: Charlotte Capers Snoad, Mauldin High School and Evan Case, Bob Jones Academy. Charlotte Capers Snoad advanced one more time with a 2-2 record after Round 10.
Public Forum Debate: Riverside’s Jaimie McKeel and Matthew Yoon advanced to Round 10, and Abby Hickey and Pratamesh Ramasubramanian advanced to Round 8
World Schools Debate: Janine D’Souza, Riverside; Rohit Yarlagadda, Riverside; Hampton Bryant, Greenville Tech Charter; Lauren Hancock, Bob Jones Academy; and Julia Hancock, Bob Jones Academy advanced to the triple-octafinal round
Congress — Semifinalist in the Senate: Ivana Ramirez, Riverside
Supplemental Events
Storytelling — Semifinalist: Sooruj Bhatia, Riverside
Four-Time National Qualifiers
Chase Garrett, Southside
Sooruj Bhatia, Riverside
Coaches
Third Coaching Diamond — Greg Cook, Riverside High School
Ninth Distinguished Service Award — Chuck Nicholas, Bob Jones Academy
Eleventh Distinguished Service Award — Gail Nicholas, Bob Jones Academy
District Chair Gold Award (second recognition) — Gail Nicholas, Bob Jones Academy
2017 NSDA Nationals
The 2017 National Tournament was in Birmingham, Alabama. The highlight for South Carolina was a national champion in dramatic interpretation! Chase Garrett, of Southside High School, achieved this amazing accomplishment.
Main Events
Dramatic Interpretation — Champion: Chase Garrett, Southside High School
Coaches
First Coaching Diamond — Pete Martin, Riverside High School
2014 NFL Nationals
The 2014 National Tournament was held in Overland Park, Kansas. The following South Carolina Students and coaches were honored during the event.
School Awards
Southside High School — School, Honor in Speech
Riverside High School — School, Excellence in Speech
Riverside High School — in 4th place for the Karl E. Mundt Trophy, Congress
Main Events
Duo Interpretation — 4th place overall and Bama Bowl Recipients (winners of final round): Branden Lindsay and Jarret Williams, Southside High School
U.S. Extemporaneous Speaking — 12th place: Nida Ansari, Riverside High School
Lincoln-Douglas Debate — tied for 11th place: James Hintson, Wren High School
Lincoln-Douglas Debate — tied for 20th place: Elliott Kelley, Bob Jones Academy
Congress Senate — 16th place in final chamber: Lorenzo Barberis Canonico, Riverside High School
Congress House — 18th place in final chamber and voted best presiding officer: Kerry Yan, Riverside High School
Congress House — 19th place in final chamber: Abrianna Means, Southside High School
Duo Interpretation— Octafinalist (Top 60): Stephanie Hong and Carol Lee, Riverside High School
Dramatic Interp — Octafinalist (Top 60): Chantel Brown, Riverside High School
Humorous Interp — Octafinalist (Top 60): Spenser Bryant, Riverside High School
Original Oratory — Octafinalist (Top 60): Alexander Koo, Riverside High School
Original Oratory — Octafinalist (Top 60): Anjali Patel, Southside High School,
Public Forum Debate — Octafinalist (Top 70): Ankit Bilgi and Dustin Cai, Southside High School
Supplemental Events
Expository Speaking — 6th place: Carol Lee, Riverside High School
Expository Speaking — Semifinals: Stephanie Hong, Riverside High School
Expository Speaking — Semifinals: Matthew Harrington, Riverside High School
Poetry — Semifinals: Spenser Bryant, Riverside High School
Extemp Commentary — Semifinals: Mary Carol Butterfield, Riverside High School
Four-Time National Qualifiers
Nida Ansari, Riverside High School
Lorenzo Barberis Canonico, Riverside High School
Coaches
First Coaching Diamond — Jeff Schmauch, Riverside High School
Fifth Coaching Diamond — Chuck Nicholas, Bob Jones Academy
Distinguished Service Award, nine-time recipient — Gail Nicholas, Bob Jones Academy
2013 NFL Nationals
The 2013 National Tournament was held in Birmingham, Alabama. The following South Carolina students and coaches were honored during the event.
Main Events
Public Forum Debate — 4th place: Academic Magnet High School
United States Extemp — Semifinalist: Nida Ansari, Riverside High School
Duo Interpretation — Semifinalists: Jalen Gray and Brandon Lindsey, Southside High School
Lincoln-Douglas Debate — 10 rounds: Jamie Hintson, Wren High School
Lincoln-Douglas Debate — 9 rounds: Marina Shew, Bob Jones Academy
Supplemental Events
Expository Speaking — 6th place: Mary Carol Butterfield, Riverside High School
2012 NFL Nationals
The 2012 National Tournament was in Indianapolis, Indiana. The following South Carolina students and coaches were honored during the event.
Main Events
Humorous Interpretation, Semifinalist — 14th: Divya Khandke, Riverside High School
Senate, Finalist — 21st: Lorenzo Barberis Canonico, Riverside High School
International Extemporaneous Speaking — Octafinalist: Nida Ansari, Riverside High School
Original Oratory — Octafinalist: Stephanie Hong, Riverside High School
Supplemental Events
Expository — Top 25: Stephanie Hong, Riverside High School
Expository — Top 25: Charlotte How, Riverside High School
Expository — Top 25: Nida Ansari, Riverside High School
Extemporaneous Debate, SPAR — Top 50: Margaret Stegall, Bob Jones Academy
2011 NFL Nationals
The 2011 Nationals Tournament was held in Dallas, Texas. The following South Carolina students and coaches were honored during the event. Paavin Gami of Southside High School was a Student of the Year finalist.
Main Events
Congress Semifinalists — Top 60: Lorenzo Canonico, Riverside; Aaron Gawrych, Mauldin High School
International Extemporaneous Speaking — Octofinalist, Top 60: Paavin Gami, Southside High School
Supplemental Events
Poetry — Top 30/6 rounds: Ben Nicholas, Bob Jones Academy
Poetry — Top 30/6 rounds: Francine Taminko, Southside High School
Prose — Top 30/6 rounds: Brian Chou, Riverside High School
Expository — Top 30/6 rounds: Brian Chou, Riverside High School
Prose — Top 60/5 rounds: Ben Nicholas, Bob Jones Academy; Logan Coffey, Hillcrest High School
Coaches
First Diamond: Erickson Bynum, Southside High School; Chester Palmer, Barnwell High School
Third Diamond: Bill Evans, Hillcrest High School
Fourth Diamond: Gail Nicholas, Bob Jones Academy
Fifth Diamond: Ruth McAllister, Riverside High School
Sixth Distinguished Service Plaques: Chuck Nicholas, Bob Jones Academy; Gail Nicholas, Bob Jones Academy
2011 Ralph E. Cary Award for Distinguished Career Service: Gail Nicholas, Bob Jones Academy
2010 NFL Nationals
The 2010 Nationals Tournament was held in Kansas City, Missouri. The following South Carolina students and coaches were honored during the event.
Main Events
Congress — Finalist: Dennis Kerwin, Mauldin High School
Congress — Semifinalist, presiding officer twice in prelims: Amy Li
Congress — presiding officer in prelims: Valerie Myers, Bob Jones Academy
Humorous Interpretation — Octafinalist: Andre Sullivan, Southside High School
Oratory — Octafinalist: Charlene Hong
Public Forum Debate — 12 rounds: Blair Brewer, Southside High School
Public Forum Debate — 8 rounds: Ryan Karrer, Southside High School
Supplemental Events
Poetry — Top 75/5 rounds: Emma Galloway, Bob Jones Academy
Poetry — Top 75/5 rounds: Charlene Hong, Riverside High School
Parliamentary Debate — 6 rounds: David Wu, Southside High School
Parliamentary Debate — 5 rounds: Valerie Myers and Micah Sherer, Bob Jones Academy
Coaches
Gold District Chair Award and Fifth Distinguished Service Award: Gail Nicholas, Bob Jones Academy
2009 NFL Nationals
The 2009 Nationals Tournament was held in Birmingham, Alabama. South Carolina had 24 students represent the state at the tournament and saw great success. Southside High School won a School of Excellence trophy in Debate. The following students were honored.
Student Achievements
Ricky Pulley of Southside High School, 2009 South Carolina NFL Student of the Year, was asked to speak at a Wednesday evening banquet honoring the NFL Communicator of the Year.
Main Events
Congress — Semifinals, Senate: Dennis Kerwin, Mauldin High School
Congress — presiding officer, prelims: Amy Li
Dramatic Interpretation — Octafinals (Top 60): Ben Leder, Riverside High School
Duo Interpretation — Octafinals (Top 60): Rachel Boone and Eeshwar Chandrasekar, Mauldin High School
Lincoln Douglas Debate — Top 50 in the nation after 9 rounds: Jon Ludwig, Bob Jones Academy
Original Oratory — Quarterfinals: Michelle Chapman, Riverside High School
Original Oratory — Octafinals (Top 60): Gary Fan, Southside High School
Public Forum Debate — Top 25 in the nation after 12 rounds: Jared Marr and Blair Brewer, Southside High School
Public Forum Debate — 8 rounds: Ryan Karrer and Paavan Gami, Southside High School
Supplemental Events
Expository — Semifinals: Charlene Hong, Riverside High School
Impromptu Speaking — Quarterfinals (Top 40 of 500-plus contestants): Stephen Lovegrove, Bob Jones Academy
2008 NFL Nationals
The 2008 National Speech & Debate Tournament was held in Las Vegas, Nevada. The following South Carolina students and coaches were honored during the event.
Main Events
Humorous Interpretation — Top 60: Monica Bracey, Greer High School
International Extemporaneous Speaking — Top 60: Rohan Shilotri, Southside High School
Senate — Semfinalist: Neel Mehta, Mauldin
Supplemental Events
Impromptu —Semfinalist: David Lane, Riverside High School
Poetry — Semfinalist: Tyshaun Spencer, Southside High School
Prose — Semfinalist: Cornesia Jefferson, Southside High School
2007 NFL Nationals
The 2007 National Speech & Debate Tournament was held in Wichita, Kansas. The following South Carolina students and coaches were honored during the event.
Main Events
Congress — Semifinalist: Neha Parthasarathy, Southside High School
Expository — 5th place: Lindsay Morgan, Bob Jones Academy
International Extemp — Octafinalist: Drew Everson, Mauldin High School
Supplemental Events
Impromptu Speaking — Semifinalist: Drew Everson, Mauldin High School
2006 NFL Nationals
The 2006 National Speech & Debate Tournament was held in Dallas, Texas. The following South Carolina students and coaches were honored during the event.
Main Events
Foreign Extemporaneous Speaking – Quarterfinalist: Drew Everson, Mauldin High School
House — Finalist: Shivam Desai, Riverside High School
Senate — Finalist: Niti Parthasarathy, Governor’s School
Supplemental Events
Expository — 6th place: Victoria Alvarez, Riverside High School
Impromptu Speaking — 6th place: Drew Everson, Mauldin High School
Prose — Quarterfinalist: Stephyn Duck, Mauldin High School
Storytelling — 5th place: Sara Ingle, Riverside High School
Storytelling — Quarterfinalist: Jessie Haggerty, Mauldin High School
2005 NFL Nationals
The 2005 National Speech & Debate Tournament was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The following South Carolina students and coaches were honored during the event.
Main Events
Congress — Semifinalist: Shivam Desai, Riverside High School
Supplemental Events
Storytelling — 5th Place: Josh Innerst, Bob Jones Academy
2004 NFL Nationals
The 2004 National Speech & Debate Tournament was held in Salt Lake City, Utah. The following South Carolina students and coaches were honored during the event.
Main Events
Senate — Semifinalist: Niti Parthasarathy, Southside High School
Senate — Finalist: Allen Klump, Hillcrest High School
House International Congress: Ion Cotsapas, Irmo High School
House — Semifinalist: Stephanie Hoo, Southside High School
U.S. Extemporaneous Speaking — Octafinalist (Top 60): John Rupp, Riverside High School
International Extemporaneous Speaking — Octafinalists (Top 60): Matt Miller, Bob Jones Academy; Peter Zolides, Riverside High School
Duo Interpretation — Octafinalists (Top 60): Susan Edwards and Dimitrios Basilakos, Riverside High School
Lincoln-Douglas Debate — Top 60: Kathryn Miller, Southside High School
Public Forum Debate — Quarterfinalists, eighth place in the nation: Ashleigh Millard and Victor Fernandez, Bob Jones Academy
Supplemental Events
Extemporaneous Commentary — Semifinalist, out of 340: Matt Miller, Bob Jones Academy
Storytelling — Quarterfinalist: Shiloh Hudson, Bob Jones Academy
Storytelling — Second Place: Nathan Robinson, Bob Jones Academy
Storytelling — First Place National Champion: Ben Adams, Bob Jones Academy
Coaches
National Champion Coaches: Chuck and Gail Nicholas
2003 NFL Nationals
The 2003 National Speech & Debate Tournament was held in Atlanta, Georgia. The following South Carolina students and coaches were honored during the event.
Main Events
Humorous Interpretation — Quarterfinalist: Irfan Rhemtulla, Riverside High School
International Extemporaneous Speaking — Octafinalist: Matt Miller, Bob Jones Academy
Senate — Best presiding officer: Peter Sima, Mauldin High School
Ted Turner Debate/PFD — 12th place: Miriam Clark and Chris Schoen, Riverside High School
Supplemental Events
Extemporaneous Commentary — First Place National Champion: Joseph Poore, Bob Jones Academy
Extemporaneous Commentary — 5th place: Paul Matzko, Bob Jones Academy