Forensics Takes on Nationals and Finishes a Successful Season

By: Amanda L. Sazama

Two of Bethel's Forensic team members returned home from spring break with quite an honor. Freshmen Chris Graber, Newton and Aziza Hasan, Halstead returned as National Champions in debate, in the Novice National Tournament which was held in Corpus Christi, Tex., March 24-26.

Graber and Hasan placed in other events as well. Graber placed fourth in duo interpretation and seventh in dramatic interpretation. Hasan broke into semi-finals for prose interpretation and received fifth place in an area called Pentalathon, which consists of five events, revolving around debate, speaking and acting.

The only necessary pre-requisite for the Novice National Tournament was that each person had to be a first-year competitor.

This is the third of four national tournaments that Bethel has competed in. In past years, Forensics has usually been involved with only National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA) and American Forensics Association/National Individual Events (AFA/NIE)tournaments, but this year they also competed in Novice and Pi Kappa Delta.

"This has been an unusual year for us-our 'National Tournament Season'," said John McCabe-Junke, professor of Communication Arts. "This year was a good year to compete in the Novice Nationals because we have strong novices."

Earlier in the month, March 3-5, BC Forensics traveled to Houston, Tex., to compete in the Districts III Tournament, at Rice University. The competitors were juniors Mark Arganbright, Olathe, and Jody Schmidt, Peabody; sophomores Krista Abrahams, Newton, Amanda Ediger, Salina, and Taryn Temple, McPherson; and freshman Amy Mattson, Salina.

Districts III was the last chance for competitors to qualify for the National Forensics Tournament. Mattson advanced to semi-finals in impromptu speaking and Schmidt made the semi-final round in prose. Also, Hasan and Brian Stucky, sophomore from Moundridge, were recognized for already earning a spot at nationals.

During the weekend of March 10-12, the team went to Omaha, Neb., to debate in the NPDA Tournament, at Creighton University. Three teams from Bethel competed: Hasan and Graber, Ediger and Arganbright, and seniors Jason Fox, Clay Center and Grant Tupper, Hesston. None of the teams broke into finals.

The final national tournament for Bethel Forensics was the AFA/NIE, April 1-3, at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. Hasan competed in Prose and Stucky, competed in impromptu speaking.

The only thing the Forensics team can do now is prepare for next season. Congratulations to all Forensics members and coaches for a very successful season!