LCC Hosts 51st Annual Dugaw Smelt Classic Speech & Debate Tournament

fighting smelt team photo

The Lower Columbia College Fighting Smelt Speech & Debate Team hosted and competed at the 51st Annual Michael Dugaw Smelt Classic on February 10-11. Nine colleges and universities attended, with 70 students competing across 13 different speech and debate events.

Though LCC was not eligible for team sweepstakes awards at their own tournament, the team had an incredibly strong showing, highlighted by several individual performances.

Keida Patterson continued an impressive hot streak, advancing to elimination rounds in all six of their events. Patterson’s final placements were second in Program Oral Interpretation, third in Editorial Commentary, fifth in Persuasive Speaking, sixth in Impromptu Speaking, 6th in Informative Speaking, and semifinalist in junior IPDA debate.

Charlotte Curry was the champion of editorial commentary. She was also second place junior in extemporaneous speaking and seventh speaker in open IPDA debate.

Seamus Mahoney finished sixth and top novice in editorial commentary. He was also fourth speaker and a quarterfinalist in junior IPDA debate.

Adah Moore finished as runner-up to teammate Curry in Editorial Commentary.

Other Smelt receiving recognition include Lukas Krutz (second novice in editorial commentary), Atilla Elik (second novice in extemporaneous speaking), and Xavier Moore (third novice in impromptu speaking).

The first Smelt Classic speech and debate tournament was hosted by the late Mike Dugaw in 1973. Though there have been many changes in collegiate speech and debate over the past 50 years, this local tournament has maintained a reputation for being an educational and community-oriented event.

With Director of Forensics Alex Brehm managing the tournament, the team was coached by a group of Lower Columbia College alumni and staff. That coaching team included Julia Mitchell, Larissa Arnold, Ilinca Slabu, Alayna Tovar, Erika Hein, Molly Mahoney, Jaida Barrows, Glenn John Cervantes, and Mitchell Levy.

LCC Speech and Debate has just one remaining regional tournament at Lewis & Clark College before traveling to Phi Rho Pi Nationals to end the season.

 

Contact:

Alex Brehm
Director of Forensics
Communication Studies Instructor
Lower Columbia College

abrehm@lowercolumbia.edu

(360) 442-2670

News and Media Contact:

 Wendy Hall, Vice President, Effectiveness & College Relations, Lower Columbia College

  360.442.2491
  whall@lowercolumbia.edu