The Cumberland High School (CHS) Forensics Team swept both their second consecutive James River District competition recently and their fourth consecutive conference championship at the Conference 42 Championship held on Saturday, Feb. 4. With several first-, second- and third-place finishes, the team is poised to defend the Region 1A East title at West Point next month, school officials said in a press release.

“The James River District competition was hosted by Goochland High School on Feb. 1, and consisted of two rounds of competition. CHS students earned five first-place finishes including seniors Brittny Price, extemporaneous speaking; Demory Williamson, serious interpretation; Madaline Johnston, prose interpretation; Kaylah Paras, poetry interpretation; and John Jefferies, humorous interpretation. Other notable winners included second-place finishes for Penny Dorsey, Blessin Franklin, Munirah Fulani, Shayna Swanson and the duo of Ella Kinney and Nick Overton; third-place finishes were awarded to Acadia Czeizinger, Caylor Scales and the duo of Raheema Fulani and Annabelle Williamson.”

Their finishes earned CHS first place in the James River District for a second consecutive year.

School officials said the team continued its winning streak and won its fourth consecutive conference championship after sweeping the Conference 42 Forensics tournament.  

“Under the leadership of team captain senior Demory Williamson and Coach Charles Haigh, the CHS Forensics Team earned first-place finishes for Brittny Price, Katey Hougland, John Jefferies, Kaylah Paras, Demory Williamson, Annabelle Williamson and Raheema Fulani. Team members Jenice Crump, Munirah Fulani, Kaylyn Sparkman, Penelope Dorsey, Caylor Scales, Acadia Czeizinger, Madaline Johnston, Shayna Swanson, Ella Kinney and Nick Overton all scored second place, and Blessin Franklin earned third. The team now prepares to defend the 1A East Regional title at West Point next month and hopes to win their third consecutive regional championship.”