This page is no longer being updated and remains online for informational and historical purposes only. The information is accurate as of the last page update.
For questions about page contents, contact the Communications Division.
The Lafayette Forensics Society competed in two tournaments in Boston last weekend, including an impressive third-place finish among 18 schools at Simmons College.
Colleges and universities as far away as Nebraska and Minnesota traveled to Simmons for Saturday’s competition. Kenya Flash ’03, a government and law major from Coopersburg, Pa., took fourth place in poetry reading and teamed up with Devan Theiler ’04 of Bridgewater, N.J., for dramatic duo. Flash also competed in informative speech and prose reading, while Theiler competed in persuasion. Rachel Korpanty ’04 of Summerville, S.C., earned fourth place in program oral interpretation and joined with Erik Heins ’05 of Center Moriches, N.Y., to finish fifth in dramatic duo. Korpanty also participated in the poetry and prose reading events, while Heins entered impromptu speaking and Lincoln Douglas debate. Pavlos Lykos ’05 of Easton, Pa., took fourth place in informative speech in addition to competing in novice Lincoln Douglas debate.
Other Lafayette team members included Amy Carson ’02, a psychology major from Pennington, N.J., Lincoln Douglas debate and persuasion; Jennifer Rusak ’04, a neuroscience major from Ashley, Pa., informative speech, Lincoln Douglas debate, and persuasion; David Gross ’02, an English major from Willow Grove, Pa., prose reading; and Paul Kritzler ’05 of Monkton, Md., novice Lincoln Douglas debate.
“We did extremely well in a really big tournament,” says Korpanty. “The best competition in the East coast was there. Add to that some powerhouse teams from outside the region like Ohio State, Western Kentucky, and University of Minnesota at Mankato — all I can say is ‘wow!'”
“I feel ecstatic about how I did this weekend,” says Lykos. “I have been working hard and it finally paid off. The support from the team and from my coaches, Jon Honiball and Scott Placke, really made the difference.”
“The interpretive events are completely different from my standard limited preparation events,” adds Heins. “I had a lot of fun trying something new, though. The success of our performance was due to all the hard work my duo partner and I put into it.”
“I believe very strongly in the material that I perform,” notes Flash. “The best reward is knowing that others enjoy watching it.”
The same nine Lafayette students competed among 17 schools Sunday at Suffolk University. Lykos took second place in novice Lincoln Douglas debate and entered informative speech. Rusak made it to the quarterfinals of Lincoln Douglas debate and participated in persuasion and rhetorical criticism.
Others included: Carson, dramatic duo with Korpanty, Lincoln Douglas debate, and persuasion; Flash, dramatic duo with Theiler, informative speech, and poetry and prose reading; Heins, dramatic duo with Korpanty, extemporaneous speaking, and impromptu speaking; Gross, prose reading; Korpanty, after dinner speaking and prose reading; Kritzler, novice Lincoln Douglas debate; and Theiler, persuasion.
The students were accompanied at the tournaments by Honiball, debate coach, and Placke, individual events coach. Bruce Allen Murphy, Fred Morgan Kirby Professor of Civil Rights, is director of forensics.
The Forensics Society continues its season next weekend at the Pennsylvania State Championship Tournament at West Chester University.