By: Julie Robinson
The forensics team has been very successful so far this season. Though not everyone has gotten the results they want in the awards ceremonies, many team members have done exceedingly well in each of the different events. The team has competed in seven tournaments this season. The first tournament of the season, the Stennis Novice Tournament, was held in Starkville, MS, and was only open to first year competitors. This tournament was very important for the new members hoping to qualify for membership in the National Forensics League (NFL). Of the 22 new members, Allison Slusher, Lindsey Hardin, JoAnna Gunnufsen, Darby Burghard, Kevin Hussey, Lauren Noll, Elijah Shaw, and Jenny Tran all qualified for membership.
The next tournament was the 6th Annual Warrior Invitational and was held September 18-19 at Oak Grove. OGHS Forensics team members helped time the various individual events while others made sure each event ran on schedule.
The Laurel-Christian Tournament was September 25-26. Jesse Cooley, Alex Roberts, and Julie Gore qualified for NFL membership at this tournament. Jesse Cooley placed 5th in Declamation, Alex Roberts placed 5th in Prose Interpretation, and Julie Gore placed 2nd in Prose Interpretation.
On October 2-3 the Oak Grove forensics team competed in their third tournament at Pascagoula High School. At this tournament Tyshawna Bishop and Melody Burton became eligible for membership in the NFL. The MVP at this tournament was JoAnna Gunnufsen, who was awarded 1st place in Declamation and 2nd place in Novice Extemporaneous Speaking. She was also a semifinalist in Public Forum Debate, TV Communication, and Expository Speaking. The Petal Invitational, held on October 16-17, was the next tournament the team went to. Gunnar Thorderson was the MVP and received 1st in storytelling, Allison Slusher and Lindsey Hardin won 1st in Duo, and Daniel Rigel was awarded 1st in Expository Speaking.
The forensics team competed in the Saint Joseph Catholic Tournament on October 23-24 in Madison, MS. Daniel Rigel was awarded 1st place in Original Oratory, Taylor Herring received 1st place in Oral Interpretation, Steven Wild and Will Bedwell were awarded 2nd place in Public Forum, and Taylor Herring and Jenny Tran received 1st place in Novice Public Forum. Taylor Herring was the MVP at this tournament. The team then attended their sixth tournament of the year at Saint Andrew’s Episcopal School in Ridgeland, MS. Steven Wild was elected Presiding Officer of Congress at this tournament, and he was also the MVP. Taylor Herring and Jenny Tran were awarded 2nd place in Novice Public Forum and Gunnar Thorderson received 1st place in Poetry. The tournament on November 6-7 was in Gulfport. The team was awarded 1st place overall, and Will Bedwell was the MVP.
The next tournament will be held at Sacred Heart on December 13-14.
