Sterner Steel City Invitational
2016 — Pittsburgh, PA/US
Sterner Steel City Invitational
4720 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Important Info
Dear Coach/Moderator,
We are very much looking forward to hosting you and your team on Saturday. I am writing to provide you with some important information to facilitate the smooth-running of our event.
WEATHER
We are proceeding under the assumption that the tournament will be held as scheduled. As of this writing, there are some indications of dicey weather, particularly in areas north of Allegheny County. The forecast calls for messy weather tomorrow (Friday night) with warmer conditions on Saturday. If that prediction does not come true, and the forecast turns into something worse, we will reevaluate the situation and alert you to any schedule change or cancellation. We will make our final decision by 9:00 PM Friday.
PARKING
All schools traveling by bus should plan to park the vehicle along 5th Ave. in front of the school. Those of you who are veterans know that parking in the main lot of the school off of Neville St. is challenging at best, nightmarish at worst; it becomes train-wreckish if buses park in the lot, consuming far too many spaces for those mere mortals driving cars. There will be parents supervising parking along 5th Ave. who will distribute parking permits to all bus drivers. NOTE:PERMITS MUST BE DISPLAYED IN THE FRONT OF THE BUS TO AVOID TICKETING BY POLICE
REGISTRATION
Tournament registration will take place in front of the bookstore on the first floor of the Main Building between 7:30AM - 8:10AM. The best way to enter the school in through the Quadrangle/ Parking Lot side. Those coming from 5th Ave will need to walk around to the aforementioned side. Enter the doors at the top of the steps and continue up a few more steps to find the bookstore and registration. After registration, if you have time before reporting to rounds or the 8:30AM judges meeting, please feel free to avail yourselves of the breakfast our parents will have for sale in the Dining Hall.
ZUPANCIC STEM CENTER
This year, for the first time, we will enjoy use of the brand-new Zupancic STEM Center. Many rounds of competition will take place in this venue, including Policy, Parli, Congress, and some of LD. It is located directly west of the Brothers' residence, a 2-3 minute jaunt (outdoors) from the Main Building. We will have volunteers and signage to guide you to your destination. And, best of all, this building has an elevator.
MISSING PERSONS
A bizarre phenomenon we wish to avoid at this tournament involves rounds of competition that begin very, very late because of a judge or competitor that fails to show up. Oddly enough, that critical absence goes unreported by those who are present! We will try to have tournament staff check all rooms at the beginning of rounds, but in the rare event that does not happen and someone vital to the round is missing, PLEASE REPORT TO THE TABROOM IMMEDIATELY. Please instruct your students to do the same.
ROUND I
All judges and competitors participating in Policy Debate, PFD, Parli, and LD should report to their assigned rooms by 8:15AM and begin round 1 by 8:30AM. All those participating in Student Congress should report to their assigned rooms in the Zupancic STEM Center by 8:15AM as well. The first session begins at 8:30AM. All Extempers should report to room 413, the prep room, by 8:15AM. The draw begins at 8:30AM with round 1 at 9:00AM. The general meeting for speech contestants and judges will take place in the auditorium at 8:30AM. All speech rounds are scheduled to begin at 9:00AM.
ORAL INTERP
Please remember that oral interpretation of literature involves BOTH Prose AND Poetry. The determination of which is called for in Round 1 will be done by coin flip at the 8:30AM meeting in the auditorium.
WAITLIST
The deadline for registration was today at 5:00PM. And while you may still make changes to your registration until 9:00PM tomorrow, please know that because of the large number of participants in both LD and PFD, we cannot honor additional registrations in these two events. However, we will place these students on a waitlist.
DOUBLE FLIGHTING
Because of the above-mentioned surplus of PF and LD debaters, it will be necessary to double flight rounds in both of these events.
WI-FI
This is the guest password for the wi-fi: cCH$1927. There will be signs displaying the password during the tournament. We cannot guarantee how reliable this wi-fi will become once 400 people are using it.
JUDGES' LOUNGE
The judges' lounge will be in room 108 of the Main Building. Veterans will notice that this is a brand new location, one hopefully that will be less crowded, noisy, and unfindable. In addition to the usual tasty treats available all day, a complimentary lunch will be made available to all judges and coaches at the appropriate time.
LUNCH
Lunch will be available to all students for $5. In addition, the usual assortment of snacks and beverages will be available for purchase throughout the day.
AWARDS
The Awards Assembly will take place, God and the Tabroom willing, as close to 5PM as possible.
Events
Speech
Extemporaneous Speaking
Originial Oratory
Oral Interpretation (Prose/Poetry Combined)
Dramatic Interpretation
Humorous Interpretation
Duo Interpretation
Debate
Lincoln-Douglas (novice and varsity divisions)
Policy Debate
Congress
Public Forum Debate
Judging
Debate Events: 2 entries/ judge
Speech Events: 4 entries/ judge
Concessions
Refreshments will be available throughout the day. Pizza will be served at lunch. Judges will receive a catered lunch free of charge.
Contact
Br. Kevin Dalmasse at kdalmasse@centralcatholichs.com
Andrew Klabnik at andrewklabnik@gmail.com
Schedule
Registration 7:30 – 8:00
Debate
Round 1: 8:30 AM
Round 2: 9:45 AM
Round 3: 11:00 AM
Lunch: 12:00 PM
Round 4: 1:00 PM
Final: 2:30 PM
Awards: 4:30 PM
Speech
Extemp Draw: 8:30 AM
Congress Morning Session: 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Round 1: 9:00 AM
Round 2: 10:30 AM
Lunch: Whenever you have time
Round 3: 1:00 PM
Congress Afternoon Session: 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Finals: 2:30 PM
Awards: 4:30 PM