Lower Columbia College debaters win tournament

LCC’s Sarah Todd was Outstanding Debate Speaker at the Northwest Community College Speech Championship Tournament April 27-28 at Clark College. Twenty debate teams from six community colleges participated.

Todd and her debate partner, Skyler Gregory (who was Second Debate Speaker) placed first in Debate. Todd also placed first in Persuasive and Extemporaneous Speaking and third in Impromptu Speaking, while Gregory was a finalist in both Extemporaneous and Impromptu Speaking. The pair went five wins with no losses in the preliminary rounds and then swept the elimination rounds by winning all three judges in each of the three elimination rounds, for a total of 14 out of 14 ballots.

“Skyler and Sarah peaked at the right time,” said LCC Director of Forensics Mike Dugaw. “Winning 14 out of 14 ballots virtually never happens. I had the opportunity to listen to their Semi-final and Final rounds and I believe that they are one of the best, if not the best, team LCC has produced in Parliamentary Debate. I am very proud of them.”

The LCC squad placed second in Overall Sweepstakes (Mt. Hood placed first with its much larger team, which allowed more entries) and first in the Washington State Sweepstakes.

LCC Forensics Coach Mike Dugaw was delighted with his entire team’s performance. The team of Puget Island resident Vaughn Ellis (a novice) and Deborah Idlett made it to the quarter-finals in Debate, as did the novice team of Tia Ostergren–Jeff Schellenbargar. Novices Karen Gidderon–Paul Scarberry placed 10th.

In other events, Jeff Schellenbargar was 8th in Extemporaneous; Karen Gidderon was 8th in Persuasive; Tia Ostergren was finalist in Dramatic Interpretation; and Deborah Idlett was 2nd in Programmed Oral Interpretation.