2008 Woodie Awards
Forensics debate team wins national competition
University team defeats 50 other teams
By: Hannah Sparling
Issue date: 3/12/08 Section: Campus
The Falcon Forensics Speech and Debate team will leave today to compete internationally after winning a national competition last week.
The University team defeated 50 other teams at the National Comprehensive Tournament, which was held in St. Louis, Mo., and, for the first time ever, won the title. Two years ago they tied for first with Carson-Newman University.
There were 35 events at the NCT for which students prepared either public address speeches or interpretations of poetry or drama. The students then performed in front of judges who scored and ranked them, determining whether they would advance to the next round.
There were four rounds in the competition: the initial round, the quarter finals (top 24), the semi finals (top 12) and the finals (top six). BGSU made it to the quarter finals in 27 of the 35 events.
Senior Kenny Rogers won one individual national title and another national title in a partner event with senior teammate Jennifer Cole. Freshman Rahul Gaha also won two national titles.
"Our students really stepped it up in finals," said Paul Alday, director of Forensics and Debate at the University.
Three members of the team, Rogers, Michelle Baker, and Kayla Combs are leaving tonight for the International Tournament.
This is the first time since the 1920s that BGSU has been able to compete on the international level, but the team expects to do well.
"Kenny, Michelle and Kayla are very good competitors," said Katie Hodgdon, a freshman member of the team. "I think they'll do pretty well."
"We're expecting to hold our own," Rogers said.
Going into the season, the team thought they would have a problem with lack of experience because many of the members are freshmen, senior Michelle Baker said.
"We didn't expect to do nearly as well as we have," Baker said. "We've been able to do extremely well in some very tough competitions."
"We've had a really successful year," Rogers said. "Everyone on the team has really pulled their weight."
While the team has had a very successful year, winning competitions is not their main goal.
"It's mostly about loving to speak and perfecting the art of performing," Rogers said.
"The nice thing about our team is that our goal and focus is not always the trophy," Baker said. "Our goal has always been education and growth. All these successes are just icing on the cake."
The University team defeated 50 other teams at the National Comprehensive Tournament, which was held in St. Louis, Mo., and, for the first time ever, won the title. Two years ago they tied for first with Carson-Newman University.
There were 35 events at the NCT for which students prepared either public address speeches or interpretations of poetry or drama. The students then performed in front of judges who scored and ranked them, determining whether they would advance to the next round.
There were four rounds in the competition: the initial round, the quarter finals (top 24), the semi finals (top 12) and the finals (top six). BGSU made it to the quarter finals in 27 of the 35 events.
Senior Kenny Rogers won one individual national title and another national title in a partner event with senior teammate Jennifer Cole. Freshman Rahul Gaha also won two national titles.
"Our students really stepped it up in finals," said Paul Alday, director of Forensics and Debate at the University.
Three members of the team, Rogers, Michelle Baker, and Kayla Combs are leaving tonight for the International Tournament.
This is the first time since the 1920s that BGSU has been able to compete on the international level, but the team expects to do well.
"Kenny, Michelle and Kayla are very good competitors," said Katie Hodgdon, a freshman member of the team. "I think they'll do pretty well."
"We're expecting to hold our own," Rogers said.
Going into the season, the team thought they would have a problem with lack of experience because many of the members are freshmen, senior Michelle Baker said.
"We didn't expect to do nearly as well as we have," Baker said. "We've been able to do extremely well in some very tough competitions."
"We've had a really successful year," Rogers said. "Everyone on the team has really pulled their weight."
While the team has had a very successful year, winning competitions is not their main goal.
"It's mostly about loving to speak and perfecting the art of performing," Rogers said.
"The nice thing about our team is that our goal and focus is not always the trophy," Baker said. "Our goal has always been education and growth. All these successes are just icing on the cake."
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