The Whitworth University Forensics team did well at the Linfield College tournament in McMinnville, Oregon.  James Eccles ’17 and Lacey Sherman ’18 closed out the final round of debate to lead the way.

The team brought home 10 speech awards and 12 debate awards.  The Arguing Bucs took fifth place overall, finishing ahead of regional rivals including Oregon State University, Pacific University, and the University of Oregon.

In the senior division of debate Jacob Farrell ‘19 was a semifinalist (top 4), Micah Allred ’17 was a quarterfinalist (top 8) and Reylene Abbott ’17 was an octofinalist (top 16).  Micah was the 2nd ranked speaker and Reylene was the 5th ranked speaker.

In the junior division of debate, Rylee Walter ’18 was a quarterfinalist and the 6th ranked speaker.

In the novice division of debate, Victoria Benningfield ‘20 was a quarterfinalist and Jess Lewis ’20 was an octofinalist.  Victoria was the 2nd ranked speaker and Jess was the 5th ranked speaker.

Speech awards included:

• Victoria Benningfield won novice informative and was 5th in novice extemporaneous speaking
• James Eccles was 2nd in communication analysis and 3rd in poetry
• Jacob Farrell was 6th in junior informative
• Emily Goodell ’17 was 6th in programmed oral interp
• Jess Lewis was 4th in dramatic interp
• Rylee Walter was 4th in junior informative
• Tucker Wilson was 4th in novice extemporaneous speaking

Alumni Ellie Probus ’16 and Lori Welch ’90 were guest judges for Whitworth at the tournament.

The team’s next tournament is at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington on January 28-30, 2017.