The Whitworth University forensics team opened its season at the Lewis & Clark College tournament this past weekend in Portland, Oregon, taking 3rd in the speech sweepstakes out of out of 16 schools from six states.

The team defeated regional rivals including Pacific University, Humboldt State University, and Oregon State University. The team brought home 10 speech awards and seven debate awards.

Speech award winners include:
Reylene Abbott ’17, 4th in persuasion
Micah Allred ’17, 4th in junior extemporaneous speaking and 3rd in communication analysis
James Eccles ’17, 2nd in extemporaneous speaking, 3rd in impromptu speaking and 6th in communication analysis
Jacob Farrell ’19, 6th in junior extemporaneous speaking
Lacey Sherman ’18, 2nd in junior informative
Rylee Walter ’18, 5th in junior informative
Tucker Wilson ’20, 6th in novice extemporaneous speaking

Debate
James Eccles was a semifinalist (top four) in debate

Debate speaking awards went to these students:
Novice:  Jess Lewis ’20, 3rd and Tucker Wilson ’20, 7th
Junior: Micah Allred ’17, 3rd
Senior: Lacey Sherman ’18, 10th, Jacob Farrell ’19, 7th and James Eccles, 3rd

The team’s next tournament is the Whitworth University/Pacific University Swing Tournament on the Pacific campus in Forest Grove, OR campus on October 22 and 23.

Alumnae Lori Welch ’90 was a guest judge for Whitworth at the tournament.

The team is coached by Mike Ingram, professor of Communication Studies and Director of Forensics, and Evan Barnes ’16 Assistant Director of Forensics.

Students in the novice division have limited high school experience and have won fewer than three awards in a particular speech category as defined by the Northwest Forensics Conference.  Junior students have won fewer than eight awards, and any student may compete in the senior division.