Ohio University Forensics Team members continued their reign as champions of the Ohio Forensic Association Varsity State Championship by placing first for the third year in a row this past weekend at Miami University.
Ever since I got here five years ago
I have been working to make sure that we are the premier team said Dan West, OU's director of Forensics.
Out of the nine teams present at the competition, OU brought in 305 total points with Miami and the University of Akron closing out the top three spots. The Speaking Bobcats won a combined 24 individual awards and three individual state championships.
Everybody contributed and everyone came together as a team said Ted Dacey, a junior studying political science. Everyone had a part in our success
and I think that
that reflects our team really well and our ability to grow into the future.
Among the big winners of the night were senior Dan Glaser, who won the individual state title in extemporaneous speaking, freshman Helene Kreigh, who won the state title in after-dinner speaking, and Dacey, who won the state title in persuasive speaking.
It was the fourth year in a row that I won the state title
Glaser said. It was a neat experience to see how the forensics team has changed over the years and to see how the competition changed over the years ... (It has) gotten more competitive.
The team meets three times a week to prepare for competitions and recommends two-hour-a-day individual practice for the team members.
We take a lot of strides to make sure that every speech is flawless
and every speech is on time
Glaser said. It is about perfecting every performance so when we get in front of the audience
we can give the best speech.
Now that the state championships are over, the team is turning its attention to nationals, which will be held at OU in April. The competition will bring more than 1,000 students from about 100 different schools around the country.
OU won the first national tournament at Ohio Northern
West said. While I don't think we are ready to win it again
I think we are poised to do well at the tournament.
