September 18, 2024
The Tallahassee State College Forensics Team showcased their exceptional talent and emerged victorious at the Tennessee Valley Invitational, hosted by Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville, TN. The team’s outstanding performance resulted in an Overall Team Sweepstakes Championship in the Junior College division, setting the stage for a promising season ahead.
Ten members of the TSC Forensics Team participated in the competition, and after advancing to the elimination rounds, each brought home an award.
Assistant Coach Elizabeth Blair expressed her excitement about the team’s success stating, “This is a terrific foundation on which to build our season. We had eight brand new students join our team, most of whom are in their first semester at TSC.”
In addition to capturing the Overall Team Sweepstakes Award, the TSC Forensics Team also secured first place in the Individual Events Team Sweepstakes and second place in the Debate Team Sweepstakes. This remarkable achievement highlights the team’s dedication to excellence.
Several team members stood out with their exceptional performances and received individual awards. Wyatt Kimsey and Aiden Kagy secured first place in Duo Interpretation. David Blair earned fifth place in Dramatic Interpretation and Broadcast Journalism as well as fourth place in After Dinner Speaking. Aiden Kagy excelled in Duo Interpretation, securing second place with Olivia Shull, and achieved second place in Poetry Interpretation. John Wickman showcased his impromptu speaking skills, earning third place in the category and second place in the Open Division IPDA Debate.
Other notable achievements include Pam Healy’s sixth place in Extemporaneous Speaking and fourth place in Impromptu Speaking, Molly Duggan’s fifth place in Informative Speaking and Public Narrative, and Jack O’Malley’s quarterfinalist position in Novice IPDA. Jack Chmielewski’s powerful performance in Slam Poetry earned him first place, while Trevor Waller secured second place in Dramatic Interpretation. Olivia Shull also impressed the judges, earning fourth place in Dramatic Interpretation.
The TSC Forensics Team’s next challenge awaits them at the Sunshine State Swing, hosted by the University of Central Florida and the University of West Florida on September 27 and 28.