MonticelloLive

The University of Arkansas at Monticello debate and forensics team captured top honors at the 2008 Tri-State Championship Tournament held at Louisiana State University January 25-27.
            The tournament featured competition between college and university debate and forensics teams from Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. 
            UAM received 33 awards, including first place in the overall sweepstakes competition, first place in the Arkansas overall sweepstakes, first place debate sweepstakes, first place Arkansas debate sweepstakes, and the Michael Fisher Arkansas Speech and Debate Overall Sweepstakes Award.
             Nicci Norton of Woodlawn earned Top Arkansas Varsity Speaker and Top Arkansas Varsity International Public Debate Association Debater. Norton also took second place in the varsity division and earned a fourth place speaker award. Brooke Flemister of Monticello reached the semi-finals while Lauren Raynor of Covington, Tenn., earned a fifth place speaker award.
             In the novice division, Chip Davis of Bentonville was awarded Top Arkansas Novice Speaker and reached the round of 16. He also earned a first place speaker award. Josh Smith of McGehee reached the semi-finals while Zach Baumgarten and Hunter Gillum of Monticello reached the round of 16.
             Chris Halley of North Little Rock earned Top Arkansas Open Speaker and reached the semi-finals. Halley also received a first place speaker award. Joel Brown of Monticello was named Top Arkansas Open Debater and took second place in the open division. Brown also was awarded a fourth place speaker award.
            Keith Milstead of Shreveport, La., reached the semi-finals and was awarded a third place speaker award while Brian Rauls of Bearden earned a sixth place speaker award.
            In individual events, Davis earned the Top Arkansas Dramatic Interpretive Speaking Award and placed second in program oral interpretation. Brown and Rauls took fourth place in duo-dramatic interpretation. Brown also earned a fifth place informative speaking award.
            “This is a really strong win that reflects what we have been striving to accomplish this year,” said Scott Kuttenkuler, the team’s coach and director of forensics. “We are very happy with the way things went.  As a program we set five team records and brought our team award count to 153 on the season which surpasses the team record set last year”
            UAM’s next competition will be at Henderson State University February 22-24.