FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 20, 2002
Contact: Ward Mullens
Ward Mullens@emich.edu
734.487.4400

EASTERN MICHIGAN FORENSICS TEAM TAKES
FIRST IN MICHIGAN COLLEGIATE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

YPSILANTI – Eastern Michigan University forensic team members captured eight of 12 individual competitions to place first in the recent 2002 Michigan Collegiate State Championship.
Eastern Michigan has won the competition 29 of the past 32 years, said Brendan Kelley, assistant director of the EMU forensics team.

“After our very disappointing loss last year, we take great pride in restoring our championship,” said Kelley.
The individual winners of the Michigan Collegiate State Championship are:

• Amber Neuenschwander, a senior from Ann Arbor, Mich., took first in four of the 12 competitions, including prose interpretation, duo interpretation, and the after dinner speaking.
Neuenschwander also took first in the triathlon championship competition, a new competition which combines limited preparation, public address and interpretative speaking.

• Annalisa Esposito, a junior from Shelby Township, Mich., took first in both rhetorical criticism and oratory (persuasion).

• Michael Marion, a freshman from Belleville, Mich., took first in oral interpretation.

• Jacob Hodgen, a sophomore from Southfield, Mich., took first in duo interpretation with Neuenschwander.

• Beth Story, a junior from Homestead Falls, Ohio, took first in informative speaking.
Seven other schools participated in the championship including: Western Michigan University, Central Michigan University, Oakland University, Northwood University, Wayne State University, Jackson Community College and Saginaw Valley State University.

“Strong senior leadership helped lead the team to victory,” said Kelley.

The forensics team’s next stop will be the National Tournament at Berry College in Georgia, April 18-23.

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