Header image for Forensics wins 9th Consecutive State Championship

Forensics wins 9th Consecutive State Championship

Posted by Kate Blosser on

For the ninth consecutive year, the FSU Forensics team has won the State Championship. The Florida Intercollegiate Forensics Association State Championship was held at Tallahassee Community College from February 19-21. Beating out competing teams from other universities including University of Central Florida, University of Florida, University of West Florida and Tallahassee Community College.

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The Forensics team has a rich history at Florida State, dating back to 1887 when Florida State was a women’s college. Today, the group is led by doctoral student Nick Thompson and boasts 12 members. Of the 12, 10 participated during the state championship. In addition to the State Championship title, the team was awarded first place in Individual Events Sweepstakes, first place in Debate Sweepstakes and fourth place in Readers Theatre. 

While the Forensics team was named the State Champions, seven of the members were also named state champions in their events:

  • Joshua Sherman and James Stage, Lincoln Douglas Debate
  • James Stage and Jose Pineda, Parliamentary Debate
  • Zachary Lima, Dramatic Interpretation
  • Eliza Jones, Program Oral Interpretation
  • Joseph Quintana, Communication Analysis
  • Joseph Quintana, Informative Speaking
  • Manish Khanal, Persuasive Speaking
  • Zachary Lima, Poetry Interpretation

By placing first in Persuasive Speaking, sophomore Manish Khanal is qualified to represent FSU and the state of Florida at the nation’s oldest speech tournament – the National Championship of the Interstate Oratorical Association. Manish plans to attend the tournament in Berry College in Rome, Ga. on April 23-25.

The team’s director, Nick Thompson said, “My students recognize they have a unique opportunity to speak about highly personal and nationally relevant topics. The passion and courage to use their personal voices has been the reason for our success this year.”

Members of the team were recipients of various awards at the event:

  • Joshua Sherman, 1st Place Lincoln Douglas Debate Speaker Award
  • James Stage, 5th Place Lincoln Douglas Debate Speaker Award
  • Jame Stage, 1st Place Parliamentary Debate Speaker Award

Forensics qualified for 28 events at the American Forensics Association’s national tournament. Forensics will be traveling to Portland, Oregon for the event which will be held the first week of April.

More on the Forensics Team can be found here.