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NSSC 2007 Commentary: Award Ceremony

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Go to: Before the Tournament, Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, Round 4, Round 5, Round 6, Final Round 1, Award Ceremony.

Awards Ceremony

John D. Williams, Jr., escorted Atlanta Tucker Community Center (GA) and the NSSC Champions Ridgefield Library Team 1 (CT) down the back hallway to the back entrance of the Theatre room, where they passed by two prize-laden tables on their way up three short steps to the stage. The room was standing, many atop chairs, and the applause was thunderous and the cheers ongoing for what seemed like a solid couple of minutes. John D. Williams, Jr., posed the students in front of the big board, featuring their terrific finals game. The camera flashes were blinding.

At some point, the giant prize check for $5,000.00 came out. The students posed for shots with the check and then both final teams were whisked out as quickly as they were brought in for more interviews and filming.

Ben Greenwood took to the stage and began the prize ceremony. He began with the non-place prizes. Each team was called up to the front, given a wrapped and ribboned game, and they posed for photos in front of the big board. The winners were:

*Committee members submitted names and explanations of why the team was a good sport and one was selected at random. It said, "Winless and happy to be here, Emily & Cassidy say they win at club all the time, but not here. They congratulate the winners at each of their matchups, saying, 'This was a good game! We had fun.'"

Then the place prizes were awarded starting at 10th place, with each team invited to the stage with their coach. The students received a game and both the teams and the coaches received a star medal. The top two teams were still tied up with the media when we reached them in the prize countdown. Since we'd already cheered them copiously, we wrapped up and said farewell until next year.

After most of the audience left, the final teams came into the Theatre room and those of us left took some photos. Perhaps one of my favorite moments of the tournament? Joel Sherman, who is always asked to sign OSPDs and books in which he appears, approached Ridgefield Library Team 1 (CT) and asked them for their autographs!