BGSU Forensics wins Ohio State Championship

BOWLING GREEN, O.—The Bowling Green State University Falcon Forensics and Debate Team can now call themselves state champions. The team beat defending champion Miami University at the Ohio Forensics Association State Championship held Feb. 15 and 16. This is their first team victory at the state championships since 2006.

BGSU placed first in Poetry Interpretation, Extemporaneous Speaking, Rhetorical Criticism and Dramatic Interpretation to edge out Miami for the title.

BGSU students placed in 24 final rounds. Junior Jamie Salazar from El Paso, Texas, led the team effort, earning state championship titles in both Dramatic Interpretation and Rhetorical Criticism. 

Other BGSU state champions included freshman Evan Kelly from Galesberg, Ill., in Extemporaneous Speaking and junior Christopher Stack of Pittsburgh, Pa., in Poetry Interpretation.

Junior Spencer Coile of Hayworth, Ill., joined Kelly and Salazar as three of the top five speakers overall at the tournament.

In addition to the team winning the overall state championship, BGSU was awarded the “Founders Trophy” for highest cumulative point total and the Division I “Quality Award” reflecting the highest overall school quality at the competition. 

All combined, the team walked away with 30 honors. They’ll compete again in March at the National Comprehensive Tournament where they are defending national champions.