Brownson Speech and Debate Team Claims Victory at Virginia Tournament

The Brownson Speech and Debate Team kicked off their fall season with a standout performance at the "'Virginia is for Lovers' Speech Tournament," hosted by James Madison University on October 5-6 in Virginia. Competing against strong teams from Liberty, Cornell, UNC-Charlotte, Marshall and George Mason universities, the team secured the overall championship win, bringing home an impressive 51 awards.

Junior Catherine Jones captured the Overall Speech Champion award, and fellow junior and biology major Catherine Rin excelled in Dramatic Interpretation, Persuasive Speaking and Informative Speaking, while also making the finals in Impromptu Speaking on both days of competition. Teammate Tristan Radcliffe placed first in Extemporaneous Speaking and second in Impromptu on Saturday, and followed up with second in Drama on Sunday. Amos Willey took first place in Communication Analysis, while returners Emily Vaca and Karissa Kromminga earned finalist positions throughout the weekend.

First-year student Anne Guanga made her mark by earning first place in Informative Speaking on Sunday and also secured second place in Persuasive Speaking, behind teammate Jones. Sarah Lasater and Gemma Patrick claimed first place in Dramatic Duo, and Jaxon Carey made the finals in both Extemporaneous Speaking and Persuasive Speaking on both days. Walk-on student M. Brynn Christianson, a freshman from Kansas, earned second place in Poetry Interpretation and finaled in Dramatic Interpretation.

“The team’s foundation was strong and now even better with a powerful and versatile first-year class,” said Catherine H. Zizik, chair of the department of Communication, Media and the Arts, associate professor and director, forensics in the College of Human Development, Culture and Media. “It was an exciting weekend as the team made great strides toward achieving greater heights in rhetorical excellence and powerful advocacy.”

This season of success began with a warm-up virtual tournament on September 29, hosted by Queens College, where Brownson took second place as a team. Sophomore Joshua Yue emerged as the International Public Debate Champion, while Catherine Jones secured victory in Persuasive Speaking. Amos Willey also earned first place in Communication Analysis, contributing to the team’s collection of 10 awards during the event.

“The opening weekend was meant for learning, building team culture and ‘warming up,’” added Zizik. “Special thanks to consulting debate coach Rob Redding, head coach Brian Sumereau and assistant coaches Abigail Thow and Jess Rauchberg for helping our students develop their voices of advocacy in the spirit of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.”

Categories: Arts and Culture, Education