Randolph-Macon College’s Franklin Debating Society won first place in the Collegiate Forensic Association’s (CFA) Southern Excursion Tournament in Gastonia, North Carolina. RMC triumphed in a field of Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida colleges at the tournament, which took place February 8-9, 2019. Communication Studies and English Professor Ted Sheckels coaches the Franklin Debating Society.

“The team as a whole performed well,” says Scheckels. “One might even say ‘dominated’ the field. But especially crucial in this big win were contributions of our seniors, who led the way as seniors should.”

Communication Studies Professor Ruth Beerman, who also coaches the Society, says, “Our students performed at a very high level, demonstrating improvement from previous tournaments. I’m confident that we will perform well at our end of the season tournament in Ocean City, Maryland. We are on track for individual as well as group year-long awards, which demonstrates the continuing excellence of the Franklin Debating Society.”

Students won the following awards:
In parliamentary debate, Sean Gordon ’19 and Caroline Kouneski ’19 finished second. Gordon was the top individual debater and Kouneski came in fifth. Three other RMC teams received honorable mention, with a win-loss record to break into the top six. They are: Amanda Baumgartner ’19 and Brianna Ciuffo ’19; Chris Cox ’19 and Rebekah Hale ’20; and Matthew DeLancey ’21 and Hannah Gutzwiller ’22.

In Lincoln-Douglas debate, Melissa Pritchard ’21 finished first (with the only undefeated record in this event) and Sommer Jordan ’19 finished fifth.

CFA tournaments feature five oral interpretation events. In poetry, Lorin Johnson ’20 finished third. In prose, Ciuffo finished first, Baumgartner placed fourth, and Johnson came in fifth. In drama, Baumgartner finished second; in dramatic duo, Gordon and Kouneski finished second, Baumgartner and Ciuffo finished third, and Pritchard and Baumgartner finished sixth. In declamation, Baumgartner finished third, Gordon finished fourth, and Kouneski came in sixth.

CFA tournaments also feature several platform events. In persuasive speaking, Baumgartner finished second, Gordon, third, and Casey Dosssat ’20 placed fourth. In humorous speaking, DeLancey finished second, Gutzwiller placed third, and Dossat placed sixth. In communication analysis, Dossat finished first, Kouneski, second, Gutzwiller, third, and Brianna Tsitsera ’22, fourth.

Two limited-preparation events are included in CFA tournaments. In extemporaneous speaking, Gordon finished first, Kouneski, second, DeLancey, fourth, and Gutzwiller, sixth. In impromptu speaking, DeLancey finished first, Gordon, second, and Cox, sixth.

Students who participate in five or more events are eligible for pentathlon competition. Gordon finished first, Kouneski finished second, and Baumgartner finished fourth in the pentathlon competition.

The Franklin Debating Society
The Franklin Debating Society competes in the Collegiate Forensics Association circuit.

Students compete in a variety of events, including debate and forensics. Debate includes both parliamentary debate and Lincoln-Douglas. Forensics events include: informative speaking, persuasive speaking, after dinner (humorous) speaking, impromptu speaking, extemporaneous speaking, communication analysis, declamation, poetry interpretation, prose interpretation, single dramatic interpretation, and duo dramatic interpretation.