The Omnibus

Issue date: 11/4/04 Section: News

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The Southwest Baptist University Forensics team captured several first place finishes and individual awards at the Central States Forensics Tournament held Oct. 29-30 at Longview Community College in Lee's Summit. Students from 17 colleges and universities in six states competed in the tournament which featured parliamentary debate and 11 individual events.

The Forensics Team continued its winning ways at the Central States Forensics Tournament held Oct. 29 - 30 at Longview Community College in Lee´s Summit.

SBU's 14-member team included seniors Jordan Compton, Ben Burns, Justin Downen and Bryan Fisher. Juniors members were Lauren Alfano, Jennifer Helmers and Clarissa White. Sophomores competing were Amy Bopp, Courtney Brooks, Nathan Ross and David VanBebber. Freshmen members were Sean McCormack, Stephanie Smith and Daniel Wilson.

SBU speakers took first place honors in both speech and debate, followed by teams from Washburn University and the University of Arkansas.

In individual events, SBU's team claimed first place overall. Teams from Doane College and Kansas State took second and third respectively.

Burns took first place in informative speaking with Downen taking second in after-dinner speaking.

Compton took third and sixth place in duo interpretation and placed third in prose interpretation.

Helmers finished fourth in communication analysis, third in after-dinner speaking and duo interpretation and first in impromptu speaking.

Smith finished third in informative speaking with VanBebber claiming third in poetry interpretation.

White finished sixth in duo interpretation and placed fifth in communication analysis. She also came away as a quarterfinalist in debate.

SBU's novice teams comprised of Bopp and VanBebber and the team of Downen and McCormack were co-champions in novice debate.

Helmers and Fisher finished as semifinalists in the open parliamentary competition.

Fisher finished with a first place ranking as a speaker in the open division of competition.

As a team, SBU came away with numerous awards, beating such schools as the University of Arkansas, Central Missouri State, Kansas State and Northwest Missouri State.

The University of Nebraska-Omaha, Webster University and William Jewell College also competed at the tournament.

Dr. Joshua Compton, one of the SBU team's coaches, was impressed with the outcome.

"We see our students continuing to make positive growth as speakers," Compton said. "We are impressed with their dedication."

Dr. Bob Derryberry, professor of communication and director of the forensics team, was also pleased with the competition results.

"The team represented the university as excellent examples of credible speakers," he said. "They were thrilled with this achievement in a very competitive tournament."

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