Issue date: 10/12/06 Section: Campus News

Media Credit: Heather Mawhiney Freshmen Jessica Walter and Alex Collie practice forensics during their first meeting since returning from Fairfax, Va. in Hibbard Monday afternoon.

The UW-Eau Claire forensics team placed at two out-of-state tournaments Friday through Sunday, a week after taking second place in Team Sweeps at the Mid-America Forensics Tournament Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 in Illinois.

Three varsity members traveled to George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. this weekend to compete in the "Virginia is for Lovers" tournament. Senior Christine Zani took first place in persuasion and prose, and senior Amy Oldakowski received second place in communication analysis.

"We're pretty pleased with our performance," Zani said, adding that there were only three members from Eau Claire competing with about 13 other teams much larger than theirs.

Other team members participated in the "Talk of the Tundra" tournament Friday and Saturday at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., where freshman Alex Collie took first place in poetry. He also received special recognition for top novice in poetry.

Sophomore Julie Germain earned third place in dramatic interpretation and sixth place in informative speaking, while junior Eric Plantenberg received fifth and sixth place in dramatic interpretation and prose interpretation, respectively. As a team, they placed fifth in team sweepstakes.
Illinois State University hosted the first MAFL tournament Sept. 30 in Normal, Ill. Hilary Rasmussen took first place in dramatic interpretation, third in poetry and fourth in prose. Zani placed first in communication analysis, second in persuasive speaking and sixth in extemporaneous speaking. Oldakowski placed fourth in impromptu speaking, fifth in extemporaneous speaking and sixth in after-dinner speaking, while Germain took sixth in persuasive speaking.

Bradley University (Ill.) hosted the second MAFL tournament on Sunday. Zani placed first in persuasive speaking, second in communication analysis and fifth in extemporaneous speaking. Oldakowski placed second in impromptu speaking and fourth in extemporaneous speaking. Rasmussen took third in dramatic interpretation and fourth in prose.

"You gain confidence and you get to choose your own topic and speak about what you are passionate about," Germain said when asked about the rewards of participating in forensics.

Eau Claire will host the third MAFL tournament Saturday on the university campus and will compete with teams from universities outside of Wisconsin.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools