In each event, ten people broke into finals, but only the top six would qualify for Nationals. The murmur of conversation ceased abruptly as the announcer appear on stage, apparition like in her swiftness. This was the moment hordes of students were waiting for. Announced first were speeches, followed by solo events, followed by interpretation events. Duo was penultimate event announced, followed only by sweepstake awards. Sitting through the other events only elevated the suspense we felt. When the tournament host’s amplified voice echoed through the room, saying “Duo on deck”, Emma and I joined the line of high school competitors waiting to mount the stage and hear how they placed. The announcer waved us up, and the finalists shuffled up the stairs to stand in front of everyone. The host read off the names of the duo that received tenth, ninth, and eighth place, with applause breaking out after each proclamation. Naturally, next came seventh. Seventh place is the place no one desires, because it means you were almost skilled enough for nationals, but not quite up to par. Placing seventh is like earning a 59% in a class you absolutely need to pass. The silence before the revelation of seventh place was uncanny. You could've heard a pin drop as the announcer said “And seventh place goes to… Haupt and Price.” The crowd applauded, but I'm pretty sure it never registered for either of us. We had worked so hard to get ourselves to this point, but we were a few points away from actually qualifying. The team left qualifiers feeling disappointed and melancholy, with a sense of malaise resting over the Suburbans as we drive
In each event, ten people broke into finals, but only the top six would qualify for Nationals. The murmur of conversation ceased abruptly as the announcer appear on stage, apparition like in her swiftness. This was the moment hordes of students were waiting for. Announced first were speeches, followed by solo events, followed by interpretation events. Duo was penultimate event announced, followed only by sweepstake awards. Sitting through the other events only elevated the suspense we felt. When the tournament host’s amplified voice echoed through the room, saying “Duo on deck”, Emma and I joined the line of high school competitors waiting to mount the stage and hear how they placed. The announcer waved us up, and the finalists shuffled up the stairs to stand in front of everyone. The host read off the names of the duo that received tenth, ninth, and eighth place, with applause breaking out after each proclamation. Naturally, next came seventh. Seventh place is the place no one desires, because it means you were almost skilled enough for nationals, but not quite up to par. Placing seventh is like earning a 59% in a class you absolutely need to pass. The silence before the revelation of seventh place was uncanny. You could've heard a pin drop as the announcer said “And seventh place goes to… Haupt and Price.” The crowd applauded, but I'm pretty sure it never registered for either of us. We had worked so hard to get ourselves to this point, but we were a few points away from actually qualifying. The team left qualifiers feeling disappointed and melancholy, with a sense of malaise resting over the Suburbans as we drive