UA Team Places Third in National Speech and Debate Tournament

Akron, Ohio, May 26, 2004 — The University of Akron has placed third in the Division II Varsity Team Sweepstakes of the National Forensic Association's National Speech and Debate Tournament.

Teams from 72 colleges and universities throughout the country participated in the national tournament in mid-April at Western Illinois University. The UA Speech and Debate Team participants included Jeremy Hodgson of Massillon, Clarissa Grimes of Canton and Sotery Zulia of Wadsworth.

In preliminary rounds of the competition, the UA students amassed 40 first-place ranks in the categories of Prose Interpretation, Poetry Interpretation, Duo Interpretation, Impromptu Speaking, Informative Speaking and After-Dinner Speaking.

Also in April, the UA team was one of only two from Ohio to qualify for the American Forensic Association's National Individual Events Tournament at California State University at Long Beach. With each category drawing a minimum of 150 contestants, UA's Jeremy Hodgson placed 13th in Poetry Interpretation, and he and Clarissa Grimes placed 18th in Duo Interpretation.

The University of Akron Speech and Debate Team is directed by Mark Rittenour, an instructor in the UA School of Communication. Rittenour is a resident of Akron.

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