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Led by first-place finishes from Kyle deCant ’10 (Orange, Conn.), Bill O’Brien ’07 (Elmont, N.Y.), and Marquis Scholar Amy Solomito ’09 (Coopersburg, Pa.), Forensics Society placed second at a tournament hosted by Cedar Crest College in Allentown, Pa. Oct. 21-22. Teams from 12 colleges and universities, including West Chester University, Ursinus College, and Randolph Macon College, attended the event.
Lafayette competitors produced strong finishes throughout the event. DeCant placed first in Lincoln-Douglas debate and fifth in extemporaneous speech. O’Brien, a history major, took first in rhetorical criticism, second in persuasive speech, and third in dramatic duo with Solomito. In addition to her third-place finish with O’Brien, Solomito took first in informative speech.
“We should all be very proud of how we did as a team,” says O’Brien. “Personally, I am very happy with how we did. Persuasion, duo, and rhetorical criticism went very well.”
Solomito was impressed by the efforts of the team’s novice competitors, who are in their first year of forensics competitions.
“I really enjoyed getting to watch our novices compete this weekend,” says the English major. “They are showing tremendous talent, and results reflected this. I am quite pleased with my performance in informative. Of course, our success this weekend would not have been possible without amazing coaching.”
Scott Placke, director of forensics, and John Boyer, debate coach, accompanied the team to the event.
Other competitors who placed at the tournament include Teevrat Garg ’10 (Haryana, India), who took second in extemporaneous speech and sixth in both impromptu speech and debate; Joash Mudalige ’10 (Homagama, Sri Lanka), who placed fourth in persuasive speech; and Marquis Scholar Sam Derrick ’10 (Etters, Pa.), who took fifth in debate.
“This weekend, like every other forensics weekend, was simply amazing,” says Garg. “It feels great to have broken in Lincoln-Douglas debate, extemporaneous speech, and impromptu at varsity level. It would certainly not have been possible without the great coaching by Scott and John. A special thanks to all the senior members of the team for their continued and diligent support.”
Ryan Benjamin ’10 (Bronx, N.Y.) also competed at the Cedar Crest tournament.
“I feel this weekend was a great learning experience,” he says. “This tournament has taught me a lot about competing and debating. I look forward to more experiences like this.”
Forensics Society members are active participants in other campus activities as well.
Garg is a member of International Students Association, International Affairs Club, Economics Club, and Chess Club.
Derrick is a member of Economics Club and Table Tennis Club.
O’Brien is a tour guide for the admissions office and a member of Newman Association.
Solomito is a member of Crew Club.
Forensics Society will travel to Saint Anselm’s College in Manchester, N.H. for its next tournament Nov. 4-5.
Previous tournament reports: