The Lower Columbia College Fighting Smelt Speech and Debate Team was the topcommunity college and second place overall school at the Seattle Classic speech anddebate tournament, co-hosted by Seattle University and the University of Washington. This marked the sixth consecutive tournament that LCC has finished first among participating community colleges, dating back to October 2024.
Thirteen students competed on behalf of Lower Columbia College, and eleven of them
earned at least one individual award.
Mara Slabu was the champion of informative speaking and was named top speaker in junior IPDA debate. Slabu also finished second in persuasive, second in editorial commentary, fourth in extemporaneous, and advanced to quarterfinals in junior IPDA.
My Ta was the champion of editorial commentary. She also was named top novice in after dinner speaking, and advanced to quarterfinals in junior IPDA debate.
Keidustine Glidden finished third in impromptu speaking, fourth in poetry interpretation, fifth in editorial commentary, and fifth in persuasive speaking.
Haylee Norris was second place speaker and a semifinalist in novice IPDA debate.
Jared Doherty was the top novice in poetry interpretation, advanced to finals in editorial commentary and quarterfinals in novice IPDA debate.
Ameera Vandolah, finished third in novice extemporaneous speaking and advanced to quarterfinals in junior IPDA debate.
Kamren Mattison finished third in novice impromptu speaking, was named third place speaker and advanced to quarterfinals in novice IPDA debate.
Competing at her first career tournament, Covenant Adegbami advanced to quarterfinals of novice IPDA debate.
Seamus Mahoney was named third speaker in open IPDA debate.
Competing at his first career tournament, Riley Lukken was a finalist in editorial commentary.
Kirby Bernhardt was named top novice in prose interpretation.
Also competing on behalf of the Fighting Smelt were Ethan Cooper and Rayelynn Camp.
This tournament marks the end of the regional competition season for LCC. Next up is Phi Rho Pi Nationals, which will be held in Norfolk, Virginia in early April.
Contact:
Alex Brehm
Director of Forensics
Communication Studies Instructor
Lower Columbia College
abrehm@lowercolumbia.edu
(360) 442-2670