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Two sophomores established themselves as among the very best Lincoln-Douglas debate competitors in the United States at the National Forensic Association’s national tournament April 17-21 at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.
Jeremy Bennett, a neuroscience major from Riverside, Pa., took home the award for third best Lincoln-Douglas speaker and was an event finalist. Erik Heins, a double major in philosophy and government & law from Center Moriches, N.Y., was named fifth best Lincoln Douglas speaker. He also competed in both extemporaneous and impromptu speech.
Students representing more than 100 schools from around the country competed at the tournament. Overall, Lafayette’s Forensics Society earned a tenth-place finish in its division for speech, despite sending just one junior and no seniors to the competition.
Eight students entered a total of 19 events. They included: Benjamin Berlow ’06 (Palmerton, Pa.), Lincoln-Douglas debate; Colby Block ’06 (Boca Raton, Fla.), poetry and prose reading; Joe Borland ’06 (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.), extemporaneous, impromptu, and persuasive speech; Kim Moore ’06 (Sandy, Utah), after-dinner speaking, extemporaneous and impromptu speech, and Lincoln-Douglas debate; history major Paul Kritzler ’05 (Monkton, Md.), Lincoln Douglas debate; and Michael Lestingi ’04 (Centerville, Ohio), who is pursuing a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering and a bachelor of arts degree with majors in International Studies and Russian & East European Studies, after-dinner speaking, impromptu and informative speech, and Lincoln-Douglas debate.
Scott Placke, director of forensics, and Jon Honiball, debate coach, accompanied the students.
“Lafayette is very supportive of what we do,” says Placke. “The administration cares about the students’ educational experience. I am very proud to be a part of the team at Lafayette. The students are very bright and dedicated. Their energy seems boundless.”
“Nationals is always a lot of fun,” adds Kritzler. “I really enjoy getting to know my teammates on these long trips. They are a great group of people.”
The outlook for Forensics Society is bright, as the team includes just one senior.
The group turned in two outstanding performances in March, including first place in Lincoln-Douglas debate at a 13-team tournament hosted by Nassau Community College in East Meadow, N.Y., and an individual national championship in extemporaneous speech for Borland at the 21st annual Novice National Forensics Tournament hosted by Cameron College in Lawton, Okla. Borland also placed second in impromptu speech. Overall, the team of three Forensics Society first-year competitors finished second in its bracket at the Novice National Forensics Tournament.
Forensics Society took second place at the Pennsylvania State Forensics Association’s State Championship Tournament Feb. 15-16 at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
The team got off to a strong start this season as a group of nine first-year students earned the top three places in extemporaneous speech, scored the top two honors in impromptu speech, and won several other commendations in a 17-team field at the Bloomsburg Novice Tournament Sept. 28.
Lafayette went on to place third at the West Chester Rose Bowl Tournament in October and third again among 26 teams at the Bloomsburg Mad Hatter Tournament in November.
In January, Forensics Society took first place in Lincoln-Douglas debate within a field of more than 25 schools at a tournament hosted by Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind. Some of the top schools and competitors in the nation participated in the tournament.
Competing in a field of 36 schools at a major national tournament hosted by University of Texas-Austin Jan. 11-12, Heins made it to the semifinal round of 12 in impromptu speech. He finished just one spot shy of reaching the finals.