CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University’s Forensics (speech and debate) Team attended the American Forensics Association (AFA) District II Qualifier & Pacific Northwest IPDA Warmup on March 4-5, 2023, at Lewis & Clark College, Portland. This was the last tournament of the regular season.
Senior Megan Baus, a Chemical Engineering major from Salem, took first place in Open Poetry Interpretation, second place in Open Prose Interpretation, and second place in Open Program Oral Interpretation. Sophomore Rachel Woods, a Biology major from Portland, was best speaker and took first place in Junior IPDA Debate. She also was sixth place in Open Impromptu Speaking.
“I am so proud of Megan and Rachel,” said Mark Porrovecchio, director of the team. “To have an established talent and an exceptional newcomer do so well really speaks to our potential next season.”
The tournament featured schools from across the Northwest, including Pacific University, Forest Grove; Lower Columbia College, Longview, Wash.; and Linfield University, McMinnville.
Also attending the tournament was Junior Anna Heslinga, an Environmental Sciences major from Salem, who competed in Open Impromptu Speaking and Junior IPDA Debate.
The team was coached by assistant coach Tasha Robinson from Hillsboro. Robinson is a former student competitor for OSU and a current MAIS graduate student in the Speech Communication area of the School of Communication.
“This was a lovely way to end a great regular season,” continued Porrovecchio. “I appreciated how, as always, these students supported each other.”
Next week, the team takes part in the International Forensics Association Annual Tournament in Tokyo, Japan. Baus, this season’s winner of the Minnette Phillips Espy and Popovich Forensics Scholarships, will represent the team alongside Robinson, who is also a Popovich Forensics Scholarship winner.
Celebrating its 130th season, OSU Forensics is one of the oldest clubs on campus and a member of the Performing Arts Board in the School of Communication. The team is open to all students in good academic standing regardless of experience or academic background. If you are a student interested in participating, or a member of the community who would like to support the team, please contact Porrovecchio at mark.porrovecchio@oregonstate.edu.
CONTACT:
Mark Porrovecchio
205 Shepard Hall
737-8230
Photo (from left to right): Megan Baus, Rachel Woods, and Anna Heslinga.