FSCC forensics enjoying success

The Fort Scott Community College forensics team is enjoying success near the end of its season.

"I'm really proud of the team this far," coach Nathan Magee said. "Four of the five are freshmen and they're all learning and working hard."

The four freshmen members -- Brittney Doherty, Jo Reichard, Keifer Cruse and Kurtis Bryan -- traveled to St. Louis, Mo., last weekend to compete at Webster University's annual Gorlak Gala. The tournament is one of the largest and most competitive tournaments of the year with 40 schools from 18 states represented.

"It's an extremely large tournament, one of the biggest of the entire year," Magee said. "It takes a lot of dedication and concentration."

Out of the 40 schools that competed at the event, the FSCC team was one of four community college teams present, with the other 36 teams representing four-year universities such as national powerhouses Western Kentucky, Lafayette and Mc-Kendree University.

"I like that we get a chance to compete at these large tournaments," Magee said. "The students are forced to compete against four-year schools. There is no division between two-year and four-year. I take great pride that we try to go to tournaments where we're going to see high-caliber competition."

FSCC competed throughout the three-day tournament, which took place Jan. 29-31. Cruse advanced to the quarterfinals in the Junior Varsity division of the Lincoln-Douglas debate -- a style of one-on-one debate that traditionally places a heavy emphasis on logic, ethical values and philosophy. This year, teams debated the topic of infrastructure in the U.S., Magee said.

Cruse won the quarterfinal round, defeating Truman State, and advanced to the semifinals where he was defeated on a 2-1 decision by McKendree University. He also finished the tournament as fifth speaker overall, and Doherty finished the tournament as seventh speaker overall.

In addition to the FSCC team's accomplishments, FSCC alumnus Michael Johnson, who now debates for Missouri Southern State University, finished as the first speaker in the JV division of Parliamentary Debate. Johnson and his partner won the JV tournament.

Parliamentary debate is a form of debate that consists of four teams of two speakers, called factions, with two factions on either side of the case. Magee said the Parliamentary style has become the most popular form of college debate nationwide, although his students have yet to compete in the format.

The FSCC team will now take a three-week break as they begin preparing for the state tournament that will take place the weekend of Feb. 20 at Barton County Community College in Great Bend. Team members will also spend some time during the break learning about the Parliamentary debate style, Magee said.

"I have high expectations for the team at this tournament," he said.

The team is also looking toward the Novice National Tournament that will take place in March at Hutchinson Community College. The team will wrap up their season by traveling to New Orleans to compete at the Community College National Tournament in April.

"It's good for us to travel and see these other parts of the region and the country," Magee said.

Anyone who has questions or would like to learn how to help the Greyhound forensic team in their "Quest to the Quarter," may contact Magee at (620) 223-2700, extension 560.

The team is always looking for new boosters for the FSCC forensic program, community members who want to serve as judges in their free time, or people who just want to watch the students perform, Magee said.

"We want to make sure the community knows we're out there," he said. "Programs are being cut across the country, and we are very blessed to be in Fort Scott right now."