Spring Break
Fourteen for forensics
Team continues winning streak at state tournament
Kathlyn Hotynski
Issue date: 2/27/06 Section: Campus News
The words "public speaking" have the power to fill hearts with dread. According to a 2001 Gallup poll, 40 percent of Americans are afraid of making speeches in public.
But to senior Betsy Schroeder and junior Christine Zani, both on the UW-Eau Claire forensics team, "It's a rush."
The forensics team claimed victory Feb. 19 in the Wisconsin State Tournament for the 14th year in a row, and Schroeder and Zani will represent the state in a national competition in Florida.
The tournament, which was held Feb. 18 and 19 at UW-River Falls, featured 11 different speaking events in three categories: limited preparation, public speaking and interpretation.
Assistant Director of Forensics Kelly Jo Wright said the state tournament was the team's ninth of the semester.
The competition season starts during fall semester and includes a tournament almost every weekend, she said.
"We have one of the longest competition seasons of anyone on campus," Wright said.
She said the team members start preparing their competition pieces at the beginning of the season. They practice for each event one hour each week individually with the coach, and most students compete in three to six events.
Zani, who placed in four events during the tournament, said forensics is a huge time commitment.
"We spend hours memorizing, hours perfecting delivery," she said. "It's an ongoing process."
Zani's hours of preparation paid off. She took first in the oratory competition and will represent Wisconsin in the Interstate Oratory Competition in Pensacola, Fla.
Schroeder, who took second place in oratory and fourth in both informative speaking and program oral interpretation, will compete there as well.
The IOC, which is held by the American Forensic Association, started more than 130 years ago and is the oldest persuasive speaking contest in the United States, Wright said.
According to a university news release, this is the 14th year in a row that both of the state's representatives have come from Eau Claire.
But to senior Betsy Schroeder and junior Christine Zani, both on the UW-Eau Claire forensics team, "It's a rush."
The forensics team claimed victory Feb. 19 in the Wisconsin State Tournament for the 14th year in a row, and Schroeder and Zani will represent the state in a national competition in Florida.
The tournament, which was held Feb. 18 and 19 at UW-River Falls, featured 11 different speaking events in three categories: limited preparation, public speaking and interpretation.
Assistant Director of Forensics Kelly Jo Wright said the state tournament was the team's ninth of the semester.
The competition season starts during fall semester and includes a tournament almost every weekend, she said.
"We have one of the longest competition seasons of anyone on campus," Wright said.
She said the team members start preparing their competition pieces at the beginning of the season. They practice for each event one hour each week individually with the coach, and most students compete in three to six events.
Zani, who placed in four events during the tournament, said forensics is a huge time commitment.
"We spend hours memorizing, hours perfecting delivery," she said. "It's an ongoing process."
Zani's hours of preparation paid off. She took first in the oratory competition and will represent Wisconsin in the Interstate Oratory Competition in Pensacola, Fla.
Schroeder, who took second place in oratory and fourth in both informative speaking and program oral interpretation, will compete there as well.
The IOC, which is held by the American Forensic Association, started more than 130 years ago and is the oldest persuasive speaking contest in the United States, Wright said.
According to a university news release, this is the 14th year in a row that both of the state's representatives have come from Eau Claire.