Forensics Team hosts Rocky Mountain Classic tournament

PUEBLO - The Colorado State University-Pueblo Forensics Team hosted the Rocky Mountain Classic, an invitational speech and debate tournament, this past weekend on the CSU-Pueblo campus. Throughout the course of the weekend, almost 200 competitors and coaches competed to crown tournament champions in the 11 different American Forensics Association speech events and NPDA-style parliamentary debate. Represented at the tournament were: Colorado Christian University, Concordia University Irvine, Northern Arizona University, Northwest College, San Diego State University, Snow College, Texas Tech University, United States Air Force Academy, University of Utah, Western Nebraska Community College, and Western Wyoming Community College.

"It is wonderful that the tournament brought together not only different squads from across the country, but also Pueblo community members, former forensics alumni, current faculty, students, and staff, and other debate enthusiasts from around the region to help run the tournament, both as judges and volunteers to ensure the tournament's success," said Director of Forensics Kathryn Starkey. "We were thrilled from the amount of support we have and continue to receive."

The tournament's large turnout allowed visiting competitors to visit the CSU-Pueblo campus before nationals this upcoming March, as the CSU-Pueblo Forensics Team will host the National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence, March 18-21, 2017. Complete results are available at: http://parlitournament.com/rmc/rmcindex.htm

Sophomores Max Groznik, a political science and history major from Lake Owego, OR, and Nate Graziano, an English major from Fort Collins, made it to the top eight teams at the tournament, before losing to Texas Tech University in a 3-0 decision. Groznik was 7th speaker overall, and Graziano was 8th speaker overall among 96 debaters in the tournament.

For more information about the Forensics Team, including the 2016-2017 season schedule, visit http://chass.csupueblo.edu/MinorAcademicPrograms/CommunicationRhetoric/ForensicsTeam.

Colorado State University - Pueblo is a regional, comprehensive university emphasizing professional, career-oriented, and applied programs. Displaying excellence in teaching, celebrating diversity, and engaging in service and outreach, CSU-Pueblo is distinguished by access, opportunity, and the overall quality of services provided to its students.