LAKELAND, Fla. (Feb. 21, 2007) — The Florida Southern Forensic Team had its strongest showing to date at the University of Florida Gator Swing Tournament, earning ten individual trophies, two team trophies, and qualifying two students in three events for competition at the National Forensic Association (NFA) National Tournament.

The Gators hosted two one-day tournaments back to back, the Old-Time Alumni Tournament and the Gator Invitational. Nine colleges and universities participated in the tournaments including Florida State University, the University of Florida, Florida College, and Valdosta State College, among others.

In the first half of the swing, freshman Krista Miller was both the top novice and the first place competitor in after-dinner speaking. Senior Ronnie Hess placed fourth in the event, followed by freshman Tony Rivera in sixth. In prose interpretation, Rivera was the top-ranked novice with a third place win, and Hess ranked fifth in a heavily competitive impromptu speaking round. Overall, the Mocs were the third-highest-ranking team in the competition.

Junior Jessica Barnes joined the team for the second tournament on Sunday, and was the top novice in informative speaking, taking fourth place. Barnes and Miller placed second in dramatic duo interpretation, also earning top novice recognition. Miller took first place in after-dinner speaking again, and Rivera moved up two slots to fourth place. Hess again ranked fifth in impromptu speaking, competing against 28 other students in the event. The Mocs ranked third place overall in the second leg of the competition.

“This was a great weekend for everyone,” said Chris Fenner, director of forensics. “The team has been putting in a lot of practice, and this weekend it really paid off. It is huge for a new team of our size to take home two tournament sweepstake trophies.”

The strong showing by Florida Southern qualified Hess in impromptu speaking and Rivera in after-dinner speaking and prose interpretation for the NFA national competition, to be held this year in Rome, Ga. from April 19-26. At present, five members of the team have qualified to participate in nine events at NFA. Barnes, Miller, and Rivera will also be competing in the Novice Nationals, held March 16-19 in Cheyenne, Wyo.

“I am so proud of the team’s accomplishments this weekend,” said Coach Stephanie Fenner. “I had really been hoping Tony would do well at this tournament so that he could compete at NFA with the rest of the team. Ronnie qualifying in a second event was a nice bonus.”

The Florida Southern Forensic Team began competing in intercollegiate competition in fall 2005, and is sponsored through a generous grant by local businessman, C.C. “Doc” Dockery.

For more information about FSC Forensics, please contact Chris Fenner at cfenner@flsouthern.edu.

About Florida Southern College
Founded in 1885, Florida Southern College is a private, comprehensive, United Methodist college with a liberal arts core. The college maintains its commitment to academic excellence through 38 undergraduate majors and distinctive graduate programs in business administration, education, and nursing. Florida Southern has a 13:1 student/faculty ratio, provides strong student/faculty mentorship programs, boasts 25 NCAA Division II national championships, and is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top ten Southern Comprehensive Colleges-Bachelor’s institutions and by the Princeton Review as a “Best Southeastern College.” Located on scenic Lake Hollingsworth, Florida Southern is the home of the world’s largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.