2 place for upcoming

On Oct. 6-8, the Missouri Southern speech and debate squad competed in the Annual University of Central Missouri Mule Classic.

“I was very pleased with (how the) six new freshman (are) coming out,” said Kelly Larson, associate professor of communication and director of forensics.

At the tournament, Mary Easley, freshman, and Cody Snyder, sophomore, qualified for elimination rounds. Easley compiled a 4-2 record and was the seventh seed heading into elimination rounds where she went to the final before losing to a debater from McKendree College.

“(It) was quite an accomplishment,” Larson said.

Synder was the tournament’s top seed at 6-0, but lost in the quarterfinal round to a debater from Washburn University. Both Snyder and Easley won individual speaker awards, finishing second and sixth, respectively.

The forensics team has qualified its first two debaters for the National Forensics Association Lincoln Douglas debate championships in April at Berry College in Atlanta.

“It’s a good start to the year,” Larson said.

The team is traveling this week to Creighton University to attend the Double-Up classic in Omaha, Neb. Larson said it is one of the biggest tournaments in the country.

“I am hoping to finish in the top three,” he said.