Thresher Forensics takes team of 10 to their 46th national tournament
Thresher Forensics takes team of 10 to their 46th national tournament
The Bethel forensics program continues to expand under the direction of Dr. Cristy Dougherty.
Each year, April marks the beginning of the American Forensics Association National Speech Tournament (AFA NST), a tournament that Bethel has a long and storied history of competing at. When the AFA NST started in 1978, Bethel was among the first schools to take center stage in the national circuit. Ever since, Bethel has been one of six schools nationwide to compete at the national level every year.
With the AFA NST celebrating its forty-sixth anniversary at the University of Wis. at Eau Claire, this also marks Bethel’s forty-sixth consecutive year on the national circuit, and the Thresher Forensics team delivered.
Under the direction of third year head coach Dr. Cristy Dougherty, the Threshers walked away with a 39th place finish. Since there is no divisional separation, Bethel competed against teams from much larger universities, such as this year’s champions, University of Texas at Austin. Bethel was able to hold its own against much larger schools. Bethel also beat fellow Kansas school, Kansas State University, making the Thresher Forensics program the top team in the state of Kansas once again.
A total of ten competitors performed in fourteen events against over one hundred competitors in each event. Though no Threshers broke past the preliminary rounds, there were several high-ranking scores, as well as new personal best ranks at a nationals meet for many. Some members of the team were placed in the top half of their event. Dougherty was ecstatic with her team’s performance: “I’m proud of you all regardless!” Dougherty told her team after results dropped.
Dougherty has led the team to three consecutive national championship meets during her time as head coach of Bethel Forensics. In that time, she has massively expanded the team. During her first year, a team of four competitors traveled to Lincoln, Neb. for AFA NST. The following year, seven competitors traveled to Santa Ana, Calif. for AFA NST. In her third and current year, a total of ten competitors traveled to Eau Claire, Wis.
The location of AFA NST next year will be North Carolina. It will be exciting to see where Dougherty’s leadership and recruitment skills takes the Bethel Forensics team. Look out for the Threshers looking to punch a ticket to their forty-seventh consecutive national championships meet.