Freshman earns first trophy in Texas

In early February, the McNeese State University forensics team traveled to College Station, TX and the beautiful campus of Tecas A&M University to compete in the Texas Intercollegiate Forensics Association spring tournament.  The Pokes' team featured a wide variety of students competing.

Freshman Bree Lee earned her first trophy as a semi-finalist in Imprmoptu Speaking.  Here's to many more to come for her and all McNeese competitors.

The team will take next week off before traveling to Praireview, TX for the Speech Nowhere Near the Beach tournament at Prairieview A&M.

McNeese returns to competition for the spring

The McNeese State Speech and Debate Team kicked off their spring competition schedule with their annual trip to St. Louis.  Webster University's Gorlok Gala, a massive tournament that saw 47 schools from 22 different states compete this year, was an excellent venue to start 2015.

Webster University was also where past meets present each year, as Webster forensics coaches, Scott and Gina Jensen, spent time at McNeese as well and are significant figures in McNeese forensics.

The competition was fierce, but competitors Morgan Authement, Bree Lee, Ty Newcomb, and Kyla Standley represented Louisiana well in Missouri.

This week, the Pokes will rest up and prepare for the Spring Texas Intercollegiate Forensics Association (TIFFA) tournament to be held on February 6th and 7th.

Pokes complete competitive semester and travel to NCA

The McNeese State University forensics team closed out the fall semester of competition in Tulsa, Oklahoma at Tulsa Community College.  The long road trip saw senior Morgan Authement break to semifinals in Impromptu Speaking.

However, travel continued even after competition was over.  Director of Forensics Robert Markstrom, Assistant Director Christopher Hunt, and seniors Morgan Authement and Kyla Standley traveled to the Windy City for the National Communication Assiciation National Convention, where they attended panels and presentations of top papers in the field of communication studies.

The teamresumes its competitve season in late January at the Webster University Gorlok Gala in St. Louis, Missouri.

Team welcomes new members to first career competition

The McNeese forensics team added some new faces the weekend of October 17-19 at the Bayou City Swing at San Jacinto College in Houston, TX.

Freshmen Michael Graham and Bree Lee teamed up for Parliamentary Debate and also got their first shot at Impromptu Speaking competition.

Sophomore Christian McGee experienced his first tournament competing in Prose Interpretation.

The team also welcomed junior Jazmin Franco-Farraj back to competition in Dramatic Interpretation.

Senior Cyrus Vidrine rounded out the squad at San Jac, competing in Impromptu and Drama.

The Pokes will have a weekend off before traveling to the Texas Intercollegiate Forensics Association (TIFA) Fall Tournament at Texas Christian University.

McNeese brings fierce competition to Pennsylvania

The Pokes flew north to West Chester, PA during the weekend of October 11-12 for the Carolyn Keefe Memorial/Southern and Northern Forensics Union (SNAFU) #2 Swing at West Chester University.  Students participated in individual events as well as parlimentary debate.

On Saturday, the team of seniors Morgan Authement and A'renica Mumford took 1st place in parliementary, going undefeated throughout the day.  Mumford also placed 6th in Impromptu Speaking, qualifying her to compete at the National Forensics Association national tournament in April 2015.

Senior Kyla Standley placed 5th in Program Oral Interpretation onSaturday as well.

Authement, Mumford, and Standley's combined plints earned them 6th place in Open Team Sweepstakes.

Sunday saw more success from the Cowboys.  Authement and Standley teamed up for 7t place in Dramatic Duo, and Standley took 6th place in Program Oral Interpretation.  The three competitors also brought home 2nd place in Limited Team Sweepstakes.

McNeese will continue its competitive season at San JAcinto College - North next weekend at the Bayou City Swing.