The Bethany Lutheran College continued to build upon a successful speech season earning a State Championship in the Limited Entry division during the Minnesota Collegiate Forensics Association State Tournament held February 16-17, 2013, at the College of St. Benedict. Sixteen colleges and universities competed and were divided into two divisions, open and limited entry based on the number of events they participated in. While Bethany earned a first place finish in limited entry, the team also placed fifth overall.
Six BLC students participated at the tournament: Baylee Amy (senior), Leah Hensch (sophomore), Shawn Loging (sophomore), Jacob Schneider (freshman), Rachel Skaaland (senior), and William Soule (sophomore).
While the team award was a collective effort, there were a number of excellent individual performances.
• Will Soule earned second place in Impromptu Speaking and second place in Extemporaneous Speaking.
• Rachel Skaaland took sixth place in Extemporaneous Speaking. She also was named the seventh place speaker in Parliamentary Debate.
• Skaaland and Soule were semifinalists in Parliamentary Debate.
• Baylee Amy took sixth place in Prose Interpretation.
Upcoming for the speech team is the National Christian College Forensics Championship Tournament March 9-11 at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas.