EASTON, Pa.(www.lafayette.edu), May 13, 2008 — Forensics Society placed ninth in debate and 10th in Division I for individual awards at the National Forensics Association’s National Tournament in April at Tennessee State University.
Also, Beth Wehler ’09 (Gettysburg, Pa.) and Teevrat Garg ’10 (Haryana, India) qualified to represent Pennsylvania at the Interstate Oratorical Association’s Annual Competition April 25-26 in Madison, Wis. Wehler qualified for the semi-final round, making her speech one of the 12 best in the country.
A total of 85 colleges and universities competed in the national tournament, including New York University, University of Pennsylvania, Emerson College, Otterbein College, and Clemson University. Four students had high placements in their events.
Rachel Heron ’09 (Downingtown, Pa.) placed in the top 12 out of 150 entries in impromptu speaking. Joe Dudek ’09 (Honeoye Falls, N.Y.) and Sam Derrick ’10 (Etters, Pa.) both competed in the Lincoln-Douglas Debate and finished with a 4-2 record. Dudek placed 25th and Derrick placed 27th in the nation out of 100 debaters. Garg placed in the top 24 out of 150 entries in extemporaneous speaking.
“I think all of our hard work throughout the school year really paid off at this year's nationals,” says Wehler. “Lafayette has proved that it can compete on a national level against the best in the country.”
Only two students per state can qualify for the Interstate Oratorical Association’s Annual Competition, the oldest speech contest in the United States. The qualifiers are determined at each state tournament. This year, for the first time, Lafayette claimed both of Pennsylvania’s bids with Wehler and Garg participating.
The forensics team is coached by Scott Placke, director of forensics, and John Boyer, director of debate and assistant director of forensics.
“I’m very proud of both students – this is a difficult tournament to qualify for,” says Boyer of the oratorical competition. “I am especially proud of Beth, who was very dedicated to her topic from the beginning.”
