The Lower Columbia College Fighting Smelt Speech & Debate Team was named co-champion in the community college division of team sweepstakes at the 94th annual Mahaffey Memorial Tournament, hosted by Linfield University. This long-running event is regarded as one of the most competitive tournaments in the region.
This year’s iteration of the Mahaffey Memorial Tournament, which has been held every season since 1931, returned to the campus of Linfield University for the first time since 2019 after being held online the past four years. 182 students competed, representing seventeen colleges and universities from five states.
LCC and the College of Western Idaho finished the tournament tied on sweepstakes points, and were named tournament co-champions in the community college division. This marks the third consecutive tournament that LCC has finished first among community colleges to begin the season.
Eight total students represented Lower Columbia College at the tournament, and six of them advanced to elimination rounds in at least one event.
Seamus Mahoney, competing in the open division of IPDA debate for the first time, advanced to semifinals and was named top speaker in the highly competitive event.
Mara Slabu was named champion of novice persuasive speaking. Slabu also finished third in novice informative and fifth in novice impromptu speaking.
Ameera Vandolah, competing in intercollegiate speech and debate for the first time, advanced to the octafinal round of novice IPDA debate. Vandolah also finished seventh in novice persuasive speaking.
Keidustine Glidden advanced to the octofinal round of junior IPDA debate, and also finished seventh in three different speech events.
My Ta finished fifth place, and Haylee Norris finished sixth place in the final round of novice persuasive speaking.
Also representing the Fighting Smelt at the tournament were LCC students Lukas Krutz and Jared Doherty. The squad received coaching support from program alumni Adah Moore, Alayna Tovar, and Rebecca Pickner.
Next up for LCC Speech and Debate is an online tournament to end the quarter, the Earl Wells Virtual Speakeasy hosted by Oregon State University the weekend of December 7-8.