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Led by first place finishes from Trustee Scholar Joe Dudek ’09 (Honeoye Falls, N.Y.) and Marquis Scholar Mark Kokoska ’08 (Bloomsburg, Pa.), Forensics Society placed fourth at New York University (NYU)’s annual “Skyline” tournament Nov. 11-12. Teams from 17 other colleges and universities, including Cornell University, Seton Hall University, and University of Pennsylvania, attended the event.
Lafayette competitors produced strong finishes throughout the event. Dudek, a mathematics major, placed first in Lincoln-Douglas debate. Kokoska, a computer science major, placed first in impromptu speech and third in extemporaneous speech.
“NYU’s tournament was an absolute blast,” says Dudek. “It was wonderful to be competing against such high caliber competition, especially in speech events. Winning the Lincoln-Douglas debate title was certainly fantastic, but finally making it out in impromptu speech was the real success.”
Bill O’Brien ’07 (Elmont, N.Y.) placed second in rhetorical criticism. The history major believes the team is really coming into its own.
“I really enjoyed this tournament for a variety of reasons,” says O’Brien. “It is always nice to find personal success, but it was an even greater pleasure watching our novices continue to progress. While we are a young team, I feel that our novices are learning quickly. In terms of varsity members, I found myself particularly impressed with Joe Dudek this weekend. I feel he has grown tremendously as a competitor over the past year.”
Scott Placke, director of forensics, and John Boyer, debate coach, accompanied the team to the event.
Other competitors who placed at the tournament include history and government & law double major Christian Dato ’07 (Poway, C.A.), who took third place in prose and Teevrat Garg ’10 (Haryana, India), who placed sixth in extemporaneous speech. Jordan Kaplan ’10 (Livingston, N.J) and Ram Gopalakrishnan ’09 (Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia) placed sixth in dramatic duo.
“The NYU tournament was a strong tournament with many good competitors,” says Gopalakrishnan, an electrical and computer engineering major. “I had the chance to gain more experience and meet a lot of new people. I feel that our team did well and became closer in the process.”
Ryan Benjamin ’10 (Bronx, N.Y.), Greg Hintz ’10 (New Milford, Conn.), and Anthony Romanoski ’10 (Etters, Pa.) also competed at the “Skyline” tournament.
“I had a lot of fun,” says Benjamin. “It was great for me to go to my hometown and debate like I did in high school. I had a new event, which is a great learning experience, and I am looking toward developing my skills in that event and eventually picking up another event.”
Forensics Society members are active participants in other campus activities as well.
Dato is a member of Haven, College Democrats, Social Gaming Network, and political science honor society Pi Sigma Alpha. He also is a resident adviser.
Dudek is vice president of Haven, a member of Jazz Combo, and treasurer of Played Out.
Teevrat is a member of International Students Association, Foundation for the Awareness and Alleviation of Poverty, International Affairs Club, and Economics Club.
Kokoska is a member of Haven and Table Tennis Club.
O’Brien is a tour guide for the admissions office and a member of Newman Association.
Gopalakrishnan is a member of Lafayette Environmental Awareness and Protection.
Romanoski is a member of Volleyball Club.
The team will finish the semester at Ohio State University Dec. 1-2.
Previous tournament reports: