The BYU-Idaho Forensics Team recently returned triumphantly from a competition in Casper, Wyo.
The team came back from the competition with many awards and placed third overall at the event, said Nate Walker, a junior from Billings, Mont. A total of 21 schools from seven states competed in the event.
Many winners in individual events came from BYU-Idaho, Walker said. Christi Bates, a senior from Idaho Falls; Tom Bench, a senior from Jerome, Idaho; and Peter Mifflin, a senior from Ogden, Utah, all placed first in the events they participated in.
The third place winners in their events were Zach Olsen, a sophomore from Denver, Colo.; Kristen Nerheim, a junior from Ulysses, Kan.; Monica Hooten, a freshman from Billings Mont.; Walker and Mifflin.
The BYU-I team went up against teams twice as big as they were. Most teams had about 20 competitors there, while BYU-I had 10, Bench said.
Curious about what being on the Forensics Team involves? Members compile, write and memorize various speeches with themes such as theatrical, informative, persuasive and impromptu or extemporaneous, Walker said.
“Having the ability to say you won gold or silver at a national forensics tournament helps give someone the competitive edge they need when applying for any program or job,” Walker said.
Eric Embree, a communication professor, was pleased with his team. “These students work very hard, and I am proud of the way they consistently represent BYU-I and the Church,” Embree said.
The Forensics Team has been around since the 1900s and when Ricks College became BYU-I, the program was scaled down. Despite cutbacks in the program, they continue to excel, Walker said.
The next debate competition will be in November in Powell, Wyo., Walker said.
HELPFUL LINKS