WT Forensics Team Takes Second at Omaha Tournament

Media Contact: Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, [email protected]

CANYON, Texas-The West Texas A&M University Forensics Team placed second overall on both days of a recent, two-day speech tournament in Nebraska.

The WT team competed in eight of 11 categories against a dozen teams from six different states, placing in seven of the categories.

On the first day of the tournament, August Vinson, a senior history major from Amarillo, placed second in Dramatic Interpretation and fifth in Communication Analysis. On the second day, she placed second in Communication Analysis, Dramatic Interpretation and Program Oral Interpretation.

On the first day of competition, Kyla Holt, a senior economics major from Borger, placed first in Impromptu Speaking, second in After Dinner Speaking, third in Communication Analysis, fourth in Extemporaneous Speaking and third in Individual Sweepstakes. On the second day, Holt placed second in After Dinner Speaking, second in Impromptu Speaking and fifth in Communication Analysis.

Eleanor Lollar, a junior history major from Amarillo, placed sixth in both Extemporaneous Speaking and Persuasive Speaking. On Day 2, she placed fifth in Persuasive Speaking.

Newest member Kate Kinder, a junior business major from New Deal, also competed and added points to the overall second-place ranking.

Vinson and Holt have already earned enough wins to qualify for the National Forensics Association tournament in San Diego, to be held April 14-20.

The team is coached by Forensics Director Connie McKee and Assistant Director Melinda Pontruff. The team represents the Department of Communication in the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities.

Students competed Oct 31 and Nov. 1 in two separate tournaments held across two days at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

About West Texas A&M University

West Texas A&M University is a Regional Research University in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT boasts an enrollment of about 9,000 and offers multiple options for students to graduate and succeed: 65 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 41 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor's and master's degree, a specialist degree and three doctoral degrees. WT recently earned a Carnegie Foundation classification as a Research College and University. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference; WT offers 16 men's and women's athletics programs.

Photo: The WT Forensics Team placed second on both days of a two-day tournament at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Pictured are, from left, Kyla Holt, Kate Kinder, Eleanor Lollar and August Vinson.

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