BOWLING GREEN, O.—The Bowling Green State University Forensics, Speech and Debate Team successfully defended its Collegiate Forensics Association title, narrowly defeating Tallahassee College to capture the championship (Jan. 28) in Montreal, Quebec.

This marks the fifth straight CFA title for BGSU since 2000. The University has won the championship more often than any other team in the tournament's 26-year history.

Despite the tournament doubling in size this year, each of Bowling Green's team members placed in at least one event, winning a total of 17 awards, including the team championship and four individual championships.

The CFA champions include interpersonal communications major Michelle Baker, a junior from Loudonville, in Communication Analysis; senior political science major Andrea Brew of the District of Columbia, in Poetry Interpretation, and senior theatre major Abby Bollenbacher of Rockford and senior history major Lewis B. Smith of Wauseon, in Duo Interpretation.

Smith became the most successful performer in Duo Interpretation in the association's history with his third first-place finish in three trips to the tournament.  

The Falcons faced competition from 21 schools, including West Chester University, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Southwest Oklahoma State University, Bloomsburg University and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Each member of the team made finals in at least one event, making the team's success truly a group effort, noted Paul Wesley Alday, who directs forensics and debate at BGSU. Joining him as BGSU coaches and judges at the tournament were graduate student Jeff List, and alumni coaches Tony Wise, Derrick Jones and Leah D'Emilio.  

Bowling Green's forensics program is a co-curricular, competitive team offered through the Department of Theatre and Film to any undergraduate student in good academic standing. Students, with the help of the experienced coaching staff, prepare speeches, debates and interpretive performances, competing with similar students from other academic institutions. The forensics team and Pi Kappa Delta forensics honor society are among the oldest organizations on campus. For more information, visit www.bgsu.edu/departments/theatre/performances/forensics/index.htm.

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(Posted February 03, 2006 )