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Saginaw Valley State University

February 21, 2018

SVSU forensics team continues strong season, takes second place in the state

Saginaw Valley State University's competitive public speaking team placed second overall in the 2018 Michigan Intercollegiate Speech League Novice States Tournament.

SVSU students were among those from seven Michigan colleges and universities who competed in various public speaking categories at Hillsdale College Saturday, Feb. 17.

Coached by Amy Pierce, associate professor of communication, SVSU's current team has shown determination in preparing for their tournaments. The group is almost entirely comprised of novice competitors, meaning they have performed in fewer than six tournaments.

Three SVSU students won their respective events, and all seven SVSU students involved in this competition placed in the top of their respective categories.

Kelley Gray, a communication major from Sandusky, won the programmed oral interpretation category. Darious Henry, a communication major from Chesterfield Township, won first place in the prose category. Tiler Jewel, a creative writing major from Essexville, placed first in the informative category. Gray also placed fourth in the impromptu category, and Jewel also placed fifth in the persuasion category.

Other SVSU students who placed in their events include:

  • Jenna Brown, a secondary education major from Saginaw, who won second place in the prose category.
  • Jill Castle, a communication major from Standish, who earned a third-place finish in the after dinner speaking category.
  • Jeremy Flood, a communication major from Freeland, who placed fourth in the extemporaneous speaking category.
  • Jayla Gaskins, a communication major from Detroit, who finished second in both the dramatic interpretation and programmed oral interpretation categories.

By virtue of their success at the fall Michigan Intercollegiate Speech League tournament, three SVSU students already have qualified to compete in the National Forensic Association National Championship tournament scheduled April 19-23 at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Castle and Jewel will be joined by Jrew Brickel, a criminal justice major from Midland.

SVSU’s forensics team will continue their season in March, when they will travel to Eastern Michigan University for the next Michigan Intercollegiate Speech League States Tournament.