Building off the foundation it laid at a speech and debate competition in Washington state in December, winning top honors, the Cal State San Bernardino Forensics Team is now preparing for the Western States Communication Association Forensics Tournament in Santa Clara in February.

The team competed in the 45th Annual Smelt Classic Speech and Debate Tournament hosted by Lower Columbia College in Longview, Wash., Dec. 1-3.

CSUSB entered 14 members in the Individual Events and National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA) Debate, and three earned medals:

  • Zahnely Baca, second place and top novice speaker, Dramatic Interpretation;
  • Krystal Erickson, third place, Dramatic Interpretation; and
  • Dorian Butler, third place, After Dinner Speaking/Speech to Entertain.

In addition, Theresa Salas was given the top junior speaker award in the After Dinner Speaking/Speech to Entertain competition.

The team competed against nine other colleges: Lewis & Clark University (Portland, Ore.), Oregon State University, Pacific University, Western Washington University, University of Oregon, Linfield College, Mt. Hood College, Bellevue College and host Lower Columbia College.

Also competing for CSUSB were: Tabitha Kessler and Alba Luviano, Dramatic Interpretation; Maria de Lourdes Campos, After Dinner Speaking/Speech to Entertain; and Felipe Montano Jr., Impromptu Speaking.

Competing in the NPDA Debate team event were Natalie Gayoso and Amanda McFarland; Josefina Valdivia and Tejwant Brar; Elizabeth Vargas and Dalal Museitef; and Maria de Lourdes Campos and Felipe Montano Jr.

When CSUSB competed in the 2017 Western States Communication Association Forensics Tournament in Utah, Brar and Gabriel Robles earned second place in the NDPA Junior Parliamentary competition.

For more information on the CSUSB Forensics Team, contact Amy Wassing, team director, at Coyotedebate@csusb.edu. Also follow the team on Instagram at @Coyote_debate.