Debate team places third in competition

By Grace Camacho, Online Forty-Niner

Wednesday, November 18, 1998

The Cal State Long Beach Forensics Team placed third in the Overall Sweepstakes at the Epicenter Classic over the weekend.

"Out of the 18 students that participated in this tournament several individual performances deserve merit recognition," said Matt Taylor, director of the Forensics Team.

The policy debate team of Kristine Clancy and Kevin Johnson finished first and second in the top speaker category in the preliminary round.

Steve Picihonne and Sarah Stone of the policy debate team of placed first and third in the junior division top speaker category, losing in the quarterfinals and finishing in fifth place.

The parliamentary debate team of Mercedes Cerrillos and David Bodnariuk placed third after debating more than 40 teams.

Shannon Houselog received second place in persuasive speaking.

There are 125 students on the team with majors ranging from political science to theater arts. They are drilled by seven coaches, all graduates in communication studies.

Held at Cal State Northridge, 46 universities participated in the event including UCLA, USC and Arizona State.

The final regional championship tournament featuring 46 debate partners and more than 75 individual speakers take place from Dec. 4-6 at Mount San Antonio College.