Outcomes, experiences of the Bethel forensics team at Nationals
Outcomes, experiences of the Bethel forensics team at Nationals
After spending a week in California, the team returns to Kansas with valuable new perspectives and more talent in their field.
Two weeks ago, 11 Bethel College forensic team representatives flew to Santa Ana, Calif. for the American Forensic Association National Speech Tournament (AFA NST).
The annual AFA NST draws competitors from across the country for a final competition. National qualification is every “speechie’s” goal, but the process takes time, practice, consistency, and passion, but nothing guarantees success.
Bethel’s team was fortunate enough to qualify seven of its members (Emil Benavides, Lucy Buller, Denzel Dixon, Emily Guldner, Becca Schlosser, Lizzie Schmucker, and Isaiah Smith) who were joined in California with two additional teammates (Tristan England and Hayden Honomichel), the coach, Cristy Dougherty, and team alum Nathanial Schmucker.
After a day of traveling, the team took two days to prepare for competition. Each morning was spent in continuous practice as everyone worked to polish their events and mentally prepare. Opening meetings and ceremonies were held on Friday and during other free time, the team explored the campus where the tournament was based.
Of course, these three days were not solely devoted to forensics. Competitors were also given time to peruse a local beach and pier, and at one point four of the team took an Uber into Los Angeles to visit the new Academy Museum.
Saturday and Sunday were days of nonstop speech immersion. If individuals weren’t the one performing, they were busy watching each other or their competitors. Besides an hour-long break for lunch, the team was busy from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and they wouldn’t have had it any other way. Although tiring, stressful, and often overstimulating, the AFA NST is an incredible opportunity to learn and grow as a speaker. It is also, somehow, an uplifting, community-based speech battleground.
No Bethel team members made it into the final rounds, but as POI competitor Lucy Buller put it, “rankings aren’t everything. At the end of the day, what matters is that I used my voice.”
The team was fortunate to see some amazing and humbling performances that taught them about more than the activity. Persuasive speakers advocated for the marginalized, some informative topics were dedicated to overlooked historical heroes, and poetry pieces demonstrated the power of depicting emotional trials.
Every Bethel forensic team member has the opportunity to return for at least one more season. But regardless of future national tournament outcomes, the team will continue to speak their truth confidently in a space that allows them to be heard.