The coach of the Speaking Bobcats wants his forensics team to be the best competitive team on campus by the time it arrives at the national tournament in April.
So far, West's forensics team has won its past four tournaments, scoring more points than every other forensics team combined in a competition at the Eastern Michigan University Tournament Saturday.
The team is looking to win again this weekend when they host several multi-team tournaments at Baker University Center this weekend, collectively known as the 2011 Appalachian Swing, according to a press release.
I want to be the most successful team on campus
said Daniel West, John A. Cassese Director of Forensics. I am very competitive.
Schools from across the country such as Boise State University, Butler University and Eastern Michigan University, along with a number of in-state schools, will be in attendance at this weekend's tournaments.
Western Kentucky and George Mason Universities are expected to be the OU team's toughest competition, but the competitors will not have their entire teams in Athens, West said.
Strategy wise you don't always send all of your team to every tournament he said.
Events will begin at 9:15 a.m. tomorrow in the Baker Center Theater lobby. The 2011 Interstate Individual Events Tournament will take place Saturday in Baker Center, and the Alumni of OU Forensics will host their Fourth Annual Alumni Tournament on Sunday, according to a press release
West said that the next goal is to win the next four tournaments leading up to the national tournament at the end of the season.
Last year the OU forensics team placed fourth in the American Forensics Association National Tournament and West said that he would like his team to build on its previous successes when it returns this year.
I like to bring honor to Ohio
West said.
The forensics team will also be competing in the national amateur tournament, one that they won the last time they attended in 2008. Only first-year students are eligible to compete in the amateur tournament, he said.
Forensics tournaments have 12 different events that fit into four different categories of presenting: public speaking, acting, limited preparation and debate. A competitor is eligible to compete in six events per weekend.
It takes a lot of sacrifice to do that work ... my kids give up their weekends for this
West said.
Team members must compete in two preliminary rounds before making it to a final round, where points are awarded based on how each individual places in debates. These points are then added to the team's overall score.
To prepare for the weekend competitions, members of the team practice one to two hours per day, then spend Friday, Saturday and Sunday competing.
If you're going to give up all this time
you're going to want to win
West said.
@ThePostCampus
1
News
Alex Westerh
