Florida Southern College’s Forensic team continued its strong showing in the fall season with a fourth-place award at the Florida State College of Jacksonville’s Star Invitational Tournament on Nov. 9 and 10. Eight FSC students were event finalists and two won first place.

Junior Katie Luecht took first in After Dinner Speaking for her commentary on the unsavory practices of the funeral industry and placed sixth in Persuasive Speaking. Junior Dorothea Bauer also took first place in Informative Speaking with a presentation on Chinese ghost towns.

“We have a very strong program this year,” said Assistant Coach Stephanie Fenner. “Our Forensic Mocs have earned 17 awards at this point in the semester, so I’m really proud of their hard work.”

Sophomore Amy Scroggin took fifth place in Poetry and won fourth place in Persuasive Speaking. Senior Erin Ferguson took fourth place in Communication Analysis and fifth place in Impromptu Speaking.

Junior Anushka Van Huyssteen was recognized as the top non-advancing novice in Communication Analysis. Sophomore Alex Watson also fared well with a seventh-place finish in After Dinner Speaking.

Also competing were sophomores Kelsey Culm and Alex Charwin and junior Whitnie Bell.

The Star Invitational offered 12 public speaking events as well as Parliamentary and Lincoln Douglas Debate. More than a dozen teams from across the state and Southern region faced off at the tournament. The FSC Forensic Mocs’ next competition will be at Florida State University during the first weekend in December.