The Marshall University “Thundering Word” Speech and Debate team recently competed at the Western Kentucky / Ohio University Swing Forensics Tournament on September 26-27 on the campus of Western Kentucky University.

“It has been two years in the making” said Director of Forensics and Barboursville, WV Graduate Student Danny Ray. “We’ve been searching for funding for over a year and now we get to see some results of that hard work and patience.”

Students have been practicing their Individual Events and Debate since the fall of 2008.

Marshall finished in 7^th and 6^th place, respectfully, out of 14 teams in two tournaments. Six time defending national champions Western Kentucky University as well as top ten nationally ranked teams from Ohio University, Eastern Michigan University and the University of Alabama, were also in attendance.

Qualifying for the national tournament in April were:

Kayla Johnson, Gallipolis, OH sophomore, 5^th in Poetry Interpretation.

Kegan Angel, Gallipolis, OH sophomore, 6^th in Dramatic Interpretation.

Hannah McCargish, Beckley, WV sophomore and Zack Frame, St. Albans, WV senior 5^th & 6^th in Dramatic Duo Interpretation.

Shayne Gue, Barboursville junior and Ryan Jackson, Huntington sophomore 4^th & 5^th in Dramatic Duo Interpretation.

Other finalists from Marshall were:

Kathleen Bartley, Wheeling, WV freshman, 2^nd & 3^rd in Novice Prose Interpretation.

Shayne Gue, 4^th & 2^nd in Novice Prose Interpretation.

Ryan Jackson, 6^th in Novice Prose Interpretation.

Kegan Angel, 7^th in Novice Prose Interpretation.

Zack Frame is the team captain and Kendrick Vonderschmitt, Louisville sophomore is the debate captain. Sarah Craiger, Huntington graduate student is the Assistant Director of Forensics.

Marshall travels to West Chester University, near Philadelphia next, on October 10-11.