The Lower Columbia College Fighting Smelt Speech Team ended the regional competition season on Saturday with many strong individual results.
The Fighting Smelt competed at the American Forensics Association National Individual Events Tournament (AFA-NIET) District II Qualifier, hosted by Mt. Hood Community College.
As LCC competitors gear up for Phi Rho Pi (an honor organization for 2-year college speech and debate programs) Nationals in April, this tournament was the last regional opportunity to practice competitive speech events. Five LCC students participated, and all five placed among the top competitors in at least one of their events.
Mitchell Levy of Kelso placed 4th in Impromptu, 5th in Extemporaneous, and 6th in Informative Speaking. Each of these results is a personal best for Levy, who has been competing in these three speech categories throughout the 2018-19 speech season.
Lydia Partridge of Longview placed 4th in Prose for her performance of You Play The Girl by Carina Chocano. This piece explores the mainstream idea of womanhood and the unrealistic expectations that are placed on young girls and women. This was Partridge’s first time advancing to a final round in speech competition.
Eli Tovar of Castle Rock advanced to the final round of Impromptu Speaking and placed 6th. This was Tovar’s first time advancing to a final round in speech competition.
Samantha Cohen of Kelso placed 4th in Dramatic Interpretation and 6th in Persuasive Speaking.
Ayesha Ahmed of Cathlamet placed 7th in Persuasive Speaking.
Next up for the Fighting Smelt is Phi Rho Pi Nationals, April 8-13 in Reno, NV. LCC will be sending all five students who competed this weekend to participate in both speech and debate events.
BACK (standing on wall): Erika Hein, Eli Tovar, Alex Brehm, Glenn John Cervantes
FRONT: Elizabeth Brown, Lydia Partridge, Samantha Cohen, Mitchell Levy, Rebecca Pickner, Ayesha Ahmed, Jennifer Capell
For more information, visit the Fighting Smelt Club Page, or contact Alex Brehm, Director of Forensics.