BGSU Forensics Ends Successful Season on a High Note!

Like most of my teammates, I have been extremely busy playing catch-up on academic and personal commitments, as we were at a National Forensics Tournament over Spring Break, and even missed the first day classes resumed. So, I have not been so quick to fulfill my PKD PR duties, but below is a press release written by our coach, Paul. You’ll notice his style is different than mine would be, but it’s all the same information.

BGSU FORENSICS & DEBATE EARNS NATIONAL ACLAIM

On March 9-12, 2006, the BGSU Falcon Forensics, Speech and Debate Team finished it’s outstanding season in Gatlinburg,
Tennessee, chalking up a national honor. Out of 48institutions in attendance at the National Comprehensive Speech and Debate Championships, BGSU tied for first place in individual events with host school, Carson-Newman College. BGSU also placed 2nd as a Pi Kappa Delta (national forensic honorary) program and 5th in the Overall Team Sweepstakes competition, which combines scores from both individual forensic events and debate competition.

Falcon Forensicators entered 36 separateevents in the competition ranging from Oral Interpretation of Poetry to Persuasive Speaking, Student Congress and Lincoln/Douglas Debate. Of these 36 events, BGSU earned national honors in 16 against excellent competition from programs representing 20 states. Some of the institutions in attendance included: Cameron University, Central Michigan University, Texas State University, University of Wisconsin, Webster University, University of West Florida, University of North Carolina and tournament host, Carson-Newman College. Ohio was represented by three schools: BGSU, Otterbein College and Ohio University.

In addition to the team’s outstanding national success, individuals also earned accolades. Junior, Michelle Baker won the national championship in Communication Analysis, an event asking a speaker to analyze a piece of communication, determining its level of effectiveness and overall impact. This is the second consecutive year that BGSU has won the national championship in this event, with Abby Bollenbacher winning last year in St. Louis. Baker also won 7th place in Pentathalon, a cumulative event for persons competing in 5 or more different categories. Six different BGSU Team members earned their way to one or more final rounds. Specific results are included at the end of this news release.

The Forensics, Speech and Debate Team is a co-curricular program offered through the College of Arts and Sciencesfor undergraduates interested in intercollegiate competition in a wide range of communication activities. BGSU students compete with students from other institutions in public address events such as Informative and Persuasive Speaking,
interpretation events like the performance of Prose, Poetryor Dramatic literature, limited preparation events including Extemporaneous and Impromptu

Speaking and various forms of Debate. Forensics speakers present their events in a series of rounds, much like gymnastics, earning points for both themselves and the team. BGSU competes at local invitational tournaments, the state, regional, national and international level.

Currently BGSU is this year’s Ohio State Champion Team, the Collegiate Forensics Association League Champion, and now tied for 1st nationally at the National Comprehensive Tournament.

This year has been an exceptional year for the BGSU program with each team member making it to multiple final rounds, earning a total of 204 individual speaking awards. The program as a whole has earned 18 team awards at 16 season competitions. In addition, the BGSU chapter of Pi Kappa Delta, sponsored through the Office of Campus Involvement, has supported 5 service projects ranging from hosting a regional tournament to presenting sample speeches for various classes across campus. For more information regarding the Falcon Forensic Program, contact Paul Wesley Alday, Director of Forensics and Debate at BGSU4N6@Yahoo.com.

National Comprehensive Tournament, Gatlinburg, TN, March 9-12, 2006 Individual Awards:

Communication Analysis
Michelle Baker, junior- 1st place, National Champion
Abby Bollenbacher, senior- 5th place


Persuasive Speaking
Kenny Rogers, sophomore- 4th place
Michelle Baker, junior- 5th place


Poetry Interpretation
Jennifer Cole, junior- 3rd place

Informative Speaking
Michelle Baker, junior- 5th place
Sarah Smith, junior- 6th place
Sarah Griffith, senior- Semifinalist

Duo Interpretation
Kenny Rogers/Jennifer Cole, sophomore/junior- 4th place
Bollenbacher/Sarah Griffith- senior/senior- Top 30%*

Dramatic Interpretation
Sarah Griffith, senior- 5th place
Michelle Baker, junior- semifinalist
Kenny Rogers, sophomore- Top 30%

Prose Interpretation
Sarah Griffith, senior- Semifinalist

Extemporaneous Speaking
Michelle Baker, junior- Top 30%
Sarah Griffith, senior- Top 30%

* The TOP 30% in each category were recognized with an award for excellence.

Pentathalon/Individual Sweepstakes
Michelle Baker, junior- 7th place

Team Sweepstakes- 1st place (tied)
IE Team Sweepstakes of 48 teams entered at the tournament. BGSU ranked as a statistical tie with Carson-Newman College. This tie was broken on AFA-NIET rules by the number of 1’s in finals. BGSU brought home the 2nd place award, sharing bragging rights as National Champions.

IE Team Sweepstakes of 43 teams entered at the tournament- 5th place.