Seamus Mahoney and Keidustine Glidden won gold medals at Phi Rho Pi Nationals in Norfolk,
VA while representing the Lower Columbia College Fighting Smelt speech and debate
team. Phi
Rho Pi is the national forensic association representing two-year colleges. Its weeklong
tournament is considered the premier national speech and debate championship for community
college students.
In team sweepstakes, Lower Columbia College won bronze in debate sweepstakes in the
Wheeler Division – the second-largest competitive division at the tournament. This
marks the
first time that LCC has placed in team sweepstakes since moving up from the smaller
Hindman
Division in 2023.
Mahoney accumulated an overall 9-2 record in IPDA debate en route to his gold placement.
In
addition to his gold medal, he was named fifth best speaker in a field of 137 debaters.
Mahoney
also competed in extemporaneous speaking and parliamentary debate with teammate Ameera
Vandolah.
Glidden matched Mahoney’s path to gold with a 9-2 record in IPDA debate and a gold
medal.
They also competed in impromptu speaking, poetry interpretation, and persuasive speaking.
Mara Slabu, My Ta, and Ameera Vandolah won bronze in IPDA debate after being eliminated
in
their semifinal rounds, all on split decisions. Slabu was additionally named 28 th
speaker in IPDA,
placing her in the top 20% of this competitive national field.
Covenant Adegbami finished 17 th speaker in parliamentary debate. The field included
108
debaters, putting her in the 85 th percentile in this highly competitive event.
Kamren Mattison, Haylee Norris, and Jared Doherty also represented the Fighting Smelt
at Phi
Rho Pi.
Fighting Smelt alumna and LCC Tutoring Center Program Coordinator Julia Mitchell was
honored with the Collie-Taylor Fellowship Award, which is given to the coach and judge
who
best exemplifies the finest qualities of a Phi Rho Pi educator.
The team was coached by Mitchell, Director of Forensics and Communication Studies
Faculty
Alex Brehm, and program alumna Ilinca Slabu.
This tournament concludes the 2024-2025 speech and debate season for the Fighting
Smelt. The
team expects to be competitive with many students, including five members of this
Phi Rho Pi
squad, returning for an additional year at Lower Columbia College
Contact:
Alex Brehm
Director of Forensics
Communication Studies Instructor
Lower Columbia College
abrehm@lowercolumbia.edu
(360) 442-2670