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The Franklin Debating Society won the CFA Spring Tournament
and successfully defended the Welch-Strine Cup. |
3/4/13
Randolph-Macon College’s Franklin Debating Society competed at the Collegiate Forensics Association (CFA) Spring Tournament March 1-2, 2013 in Ocean City, Maryland. They won the tournament and successfully defended the Welch-Strine Cup as the league’s year-long champion.
In parliamentary debate, the team of
Crystal Thomas ’13 and
Hayley Williamson ’13 placed 4th with a 4-1 record and the team of
Sean Smith ’14 and
Tim Johnson ’13 placed 5th with a 4-1 record.
Matt Launderville ’13 was 4th best individual debater and Thomas was 6th.
In extemporaneous speaking, Williamson took 4th and Thomas took 6th. In impromptu speaking, Williamson took 2nd and Launderville took 3rd. In informative speaking,
Kristian Spencer '14 took 3rd, and in persuasive speaking,
Allison Tames ’13 took 3rd and Williamson took 4th.
In after-dinner (humorous) speaking,
Derek Dittmar ’16 took 4th. In communication analysis (rhetorical criticism), Launderville took 1st, Thomas took 2nd and
Rebecca Ream ’16 took 4th.
In poetry interpretation, Smith took 3rd;
Leigh Bartlett ’14 took 5th; and Tames took 6th. In prose interpretation,
Natalie Clark ’15 took 6th. In dramatic interpretation,
Raymond Ruybe ’13 took 3rd.In pentathlon, Williamson was 4th, and Launderville was 6th.
At this event, the CFA also awards year-long honors in all of the speaking events.
Williamson was the year-long winner in both extemporaneous and impromptu speaking and Thomas was the runner-up in extemporaneous speaking.
Dittmar was runner-up in after-dinner speaking. Launderville won year-long honors in communication analysis, with Thomas the runner-up. Tames was runner-up in poetry interpretation, and Clark was the outstanding novice in prose interpretation.
“CFA also said farewell to the large number of seniors who make up this squad,” says
English and
Communication Studies Professor Ted Sheckels, who serves as coach for the Franklin Debating Society. “The win at the tournament and the defense of the Welch-Strine Cup was a team effort, and I congratulate the team for a fine tournament and a fine season.” Sheckels credits the team’s success to “this outstanding core group of seniors,” and he also appreciates that the team as a whole “represents a wide range of
R-MC majors from science and math to the arts.”
Communication Studies Professor John Mingus also serves as a coach for the Franklin Debating Society.