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Forensics Team is State Champ

By Molly Exner
UW-RF News Bureau

FEB. 25, 2005--The UW-River Falls Forensics Team has captured the state championship in duo interpretation and placed fourth as a team on Feb. 19 at the College State Forensics Tournament at Ripon College in Ripon, Wis.

Renee Schott, a senior from Greenleaf, Wis., who is majoring in pre-vet animal science, and Adam Helbach, a junior from Brule, Wis., who has a double major in English and speech education, combining their talents in duo interpretation as the new state champions.

Schott also placed third in three categories: oratory with a speech on problems associated with the Food and Drug Administration, informative speaking with a speech on the 50th Anniversary of the polio vaccine and rhetorical criticism with a speech on the new politically correct Bible.

Kathy Olsen, director of forensics and instructor of speech communications and theatre arts at UW-RF, said it's unusual and extremely hard for a student to make it to the statewide final rounds in all four events.

Helbach placed third in dramatic interpretation with a cutting from "Clap Trap." He also competed in program oral interpretation with a program on blindness.

Melissa Lutes, a sophomore from Apple Valley, Minn., a pre-professional major, placed fourth in program oral interpretation with a program on students falling through the cracks in public schools.

Kelly Aherns, a sophomore from New Richmond, Wis., who is majoring in English, competed in oratory with a speech on stem cell research and after-dinner speaking. Ahrens, the newest member, joined the team in early February.

In team competition, UW-Eau Claire took first place, Ripon College placed second and UW-Madison placed third.

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Last updated: Monday, 28-Feb-2005 11:30:13 CST