VSU Forensics Team Plans to Continue Winning Tradition This Spring

VALDOSTA -- The Valdosta State University Forensics Team attended a number of speech and debate tournaments during the fall semester of the 2011-2012 academic -- with several members winning awards.

“I am very excited about our team this year,” said Dr. Michael Eaves, director of forensics. “We have over 20 active members, and this number continues to grow.”

During the weekend of Sept. 16-18, 2011, the VSU Forensics Team attended the national William Jewell College Cardinal Classic Tournament and the William Jewell College Bowman Tournament in Liberty, Mo. Participating in the Cardinal Classic event were Melody Brooks and Matthew Hartman (Open, VSU BH); Amber Brown and Gabriel Terrell (JV, VSU BT); J.B. Deselle and Yannick Gill (JV, VSU DG). Participating in the Bowman event were Melody Brooks and Matthew Hartman (Open, VSU BH); Amber Brown and Gabriel Terrell (JV, VSU BT); J.B. Deselle and Yannick Gill (JV, VSU DG).

William Jewell College Cardinal Classic Tournament winners were Amber Brown, Quarter Finalist (JV); Gabriel Terrell, Quarter Finalist (JV), Ninth Speaker (JV). William Jewell College Bowman Tournament winners were Amber Brown, Second Speaker (JV); Gabriel Terrell, fourth speaker (JV).

During the weekend of Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 2011, the VSU Forensics Team attended the Gainesville State College Chicken and Egg Tournament in Gainesville. There were 17 schools in attendance, including five Division I programs, Eaves said, adding that VSU had three team awards. Participating in this event were Melody Brooks and Matthew Hartman (Open, VSU BH); Mercy Dahn and Keven Rudrow (Novice, VSU DR); Bethany Murley and Gabriel Terrell (Novice, PDM-VSU MT Swing); Avius Nicole Poole and Eric Spivey (Novice, VSU PS); Russell Leasure and Stevin True Scott (Novice, VSU LS).



Gainesville State College Chicken and Egg Tournament winners were Melody Brooks, Quarter Finalist (Open), Sixth Speaker (Open); Mercy Dahn, Sixth Speaker (Open), 14th Speaker (Novice); Matthew Hartman, Quarter Finalist (Open), 17th Speaker (Open); Russell Leasure, Quarter Finalist (Novice); Kevin Rudrow, 10th Speaker (Debut); Stevin True Scott, Quarter Finalist (Novice); Gabriel Terrell, First Place Winner (Novice, First Seed), Fourth Speaker (Novice).

VSU’s Forensics Team also attended the Berry College Debate Tournament. Participating in that event were Mercy Dahn and Avius Nicole Poole (Novice, VSU DP); J.B. Dessell and Sarah Smagur (Novice, PDM-VSU DS Swing); Keven Rudrow and Stevin True Scott (Novice, VSU RS). Winners were Mercy Dahn, First Speaker (Novice); J.B. Deselle, Second Speaker (Novice), Finalist (Novice); Keven Rudrow, Semifinalist (Novice); Stevin True Scott, Semifinalist (Novice).

J.B. Deselle and Yannick Gill (Open, VSU DG) represented the VSU Forensics Team at the University of Central Missouri Tournament.

The VSU Forensics Team is open to all majors on campus and does not require previous experience, Eaves noted. The team competes in regional and national level competitions and participates in parliamentary debate as well as individual events, including impromptu speaking, extemporaneous speaking, informative speaking, persuasion, dramatic interpretation, dramatic duo, poetry interpretation, and more.

VSU will host the Georgia debate championships in February.

To learn more about the VSU Forensics Team, contact Dr. Michael Eaves at (229) 259-5116 or meaves@valdosta.edu.