2003 National Point Leader Brady R. Littlefield is from Shanley High School, Fargo, North Dakota. If any student has the NFL in his veins, it would be Brady.

Brady observed his first national tournament in 1992 when his father hosted the event at North Dakota State University. Brady was in the first grade at the time. It wasn't long before Brady was working in local speech and debate tab rooms, stuffing ballots and running errands. Attending the 1996 National Tournament where Brady's sister qualified for Nationals, he quickly worked his way into the supplemental tab room, and it was then he caught the eye and praise of Miss Connie Link, longtime chair of the supplemental tab room. Brady worked with Miss Link as an unofficial member of the tab staff for four years.

Brady was among the first members of the National Junior Forensic League, as a student of St. Anthony Middle School. From 1996-1999, Brady amassed over 500 points. During this three year period, Brady competed regularly in the invitational season, was nominated the Best Speaker/Presiding Officer in his Chamber of the State Student Congress, and advanced to elimination rounds in the novice division of the State Debate Tournament three times. In 1999, as an 8th grader, Brady and partner, Natalie Espejo, won the novice State Debate Championship.

By the time Brady reached high school, his love for forensics was fully developed as he began his quest for the top.

Here are just a few of Brady's senior year achievements:

• Presiding Officer, State Senate Student Congress
• Qualifier for the National Student Congress from the

     Roughrider District

• Elimination rounds qualifier at two national circuit

     debate tournaments (Mid America Cup and Harvard). 

• Eight-time debate finalist at North Dakota, South

     Dakota and Minnesota tournaments (winning six).

• Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award recipient

      at the 2003 Watertown Fiesta (SD).

• Along with debate partner, Natalia Espejo, winner of

     a third consecutive Varsity Policy Debate State
     Championship.

• Four-time NFL National Qualifier in Policy Debate

     from the Roughrider District.

• State Champion in Humorous Interp and Humorous/

     Dramatic Duo (with partner David Thoreson).

• Four-time qualifier in Humorous Interp from the

     Rough Rider District.

• First student from North Dakota to qualify for the NFL National Tournament in two events all four years. • Team member for three State

     Sweepstake Awards in Student
    Congress, Policy Debate and
     Speech for Shanley H.S.

• Named to the North Dakota

    Speech and Theatre Associa-
    tion All-State Forensic Team for 
    six consecutive years.

• Recipient of the 2003 Show Me

    Excellence Award received at
    the NFL National Tournament,    
    Atlanta (GA).

While Brady is highly competitive, his loyalty to teammates runs deep. When Brady's partner's mother died of cancer shortly after the Portland National Tournament, Brady utilized his experience in the tab room. He, and teammate Ryan Thoreson, joined with Natalia, took charge of a benefit speech tournament, naming it the Laura Christenson Espejo Memorial Tournament in Laura's memory. Under their leadership, over $5,000 was donated to the YWCA Rape and Abuse Crisis Center and the LCE Memorial Fund of the FM Area Foundation.

Brady is attending Boston College this school year. We just might see him on the collegiate debate circuit or judging at the high school level.