This page is no longer being updated and remains online for informational and historical purposes only.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.
Forensics Society recently participated in three tournaments around the nation.
The team attended the “Hell Froze Over” Tournament at the University of Texas-Austin Jan. 13-14, where 39 schools from across the country competed. The team attended the Huggs and Kisses Swing at West Chester University Jan. 20-21, with one tournament per day. Both tournaments were attended by 11 schools; Lafayette placed third on each day as well as third for both days combined. The team most recently competed against 42 schools at the annual “Gorlock” tournament, held Jan. 27-28 at Webster University in St. Louis, Mo.
Lafayette competitors produced strong finishes at all three events.
At the “Hell Froze Over” Tournament, Marquis Scholar and computer science major Mark Kokoska ’08 (Bloomsburg, Pa.) made it to the semifinals in extemporaneous speech, and history major Bill O’Brien ’07 (Elmont, N.Y.) made it into the semifinals in informative speech.
After competing in the “Hell Froze Over” Tournament, Trustee Scholar and mathematics-economics major Beth Wehler ’09 (Gettysburg, Pa.) had nationals on her mind.
“This tournament showed us what excellent speech competition looks like so we can prepare for nationals,” she says. “And the success of both Bill and Mark proves that we have the potential to seriously compete on that national level. I was pleased to see such good competition and get excellent feedback for my events.”
The team placed well in both tournaments during the Huggs and Kisses Swing.
Teevrat Garg ’10 (Haryana, India) placed fourth in impromptu sales, an experimental event that is only offered at a few tournaments each year. He also placed fifth in impromptu speech. Jordan Kaplan ’10 (Livingston, N.J.) placed second in impromptu sales and sixth in after dinner speaking. Kokoska was named fourth place speaker overall and placed first in impromptu sales and third in extemporaneous speech. O’Brien placed fourth in his dramatic duo with Marquis Scholar Amy Solomito ’09 (Coopersburg, Pa.). Solomito, an English major, also placed first in informative speech, sixth in communication analysis, and was named fifth place speaker overall. Wehler came in first in extemporaneous speech and fifth in persuasive speech.
On the second day of the tournament, Marquis Scholar and history and government & law double major Christian Dato ’07 (Poway, Calif.) placed first in impromptu speech. Kokoska placed first in Lincoln Douglas debate and third in extemporaneous speech. O’Brien placed third in both communication analysis and persuasive speech and second in dramatic duo with Solomito. Along with her second place finish in dramatic duo, Solomito also placed second in communication analysis and was named fifth place speaker overall. Anthony Romanoski ’10 (Etters, Pa.) was a semi-finalist in Lincoln Douglas debate. Wehler was also a semi-finalist in debate and placed fourth in both extemporaneous speech and informative speech.
O’Brien couldn’t be more pleased about the results of the tournament.
“Both ‘Hell Froze Over’ and the Huggs and Kisses Swing brought individual success and team success that I am very proud of. I found duo to be the most rewarding experience of the two tournaments. Each time out, it gets even better and I attribute that to having such a talented partner. Amy is tremendous to work with and is a great asset to the team. She has grown tremendously over the past year and a half, and I am excited to see her skills continue to develop. It is her talent that makes our duo so easy and, more importantly, so much fun. I am also proud of Beth for winning extemporaneous speech on day one of the tournament,” he says.
At Webster University’s annual “Gorlock” Tournament, the team placed strongly.
Kyle deCant ’10 (Orange, Conn.) reached the semi-finals in impromptu speech. Marquis Scholar Sam Derrick ’10 (Etters, Pa.) placed fifth in impromptu speech. Mathematics major Joe Dudek ’09 (Honeoye Falls, N.Y.) earned an Excellent Award in impromptu speech. Garg was a semi-finalist in impromptu speech, a double octa-finalist in Lincoln Douglas debate, and placed fourth in extemporaneous speech. Kokoska received an Excellent Award in prose and was named fifth place speaker. Wehler was a double octa-finalist in debate. Also competing with the team was Ryan Benjamin ’10 (Bronx, N.Y.)
Garg is pleased with both his personal success and the team’s success.
“The Gorlock Gala was an amazing tournament with an overwhelming Lincoln Douglas debate field. I feel great about officially breaking into varsity Lincoln Douglas,” says Garg. “This tournament was a great start to the road to nationals. I am confident that when we get to nationals, Lafayette forensics will be a force to be reckoned with.”
Scott Placke, director of forensics, and John Boyer, debate coach, accompanied the team to all three events.
The team will travel to Suffolk University for its next event Feb. 10-11.
Forensics Society members are active participants in other campus activities as well.
Garg is a member of International Students Association, Foundation for the Awareness and Alleviation of Poverty, International Affairs Club, and Economics Club.
Dudek is vice president of Haven, treasurer of Played Out, and a member of Jazz Combo.
O’Brien is a tour guide for the admissions office and a member of Newman Association.
Kokoska is a member of Haven and Table Tennis Club.
Wehler is president of Haven and a member of College Orchestra.
Derrick is a member of Economics Club and Table Tennis Club.
Romanoski is a member of Volleyball Club.
DeCant is vice president of Pards to People and a member of Philosophy Club.
Solomito is a member of Crew Club.
Previous tournament reports: