By Chris Rincon/reporter
NE forensics team returned home with several awards from its first appearance at the 33rd Annual Red River Swing Tournament held Nov. 9-11 at Louisiana State University in Shreveport.
The competition featured approximately 18 colleges and universities, including four community colleges, from several states. TCC students who placed at the tournament were Ambra Costner, Carlos Piñero, Aubrey Garner and Emylee Piñero, with some placing as high as third at the event.
The tournament featured 10 events, each with two preliminary rounds. The best to score out of these rounds made it to semi-finals and eventually finals.
Carlos Piñero scored the highest of his teammates with a third place showing in poetry interpretation and dramatic interpretation and sixth in after-dinner speaking.
Garner took fourth place in prose interpretation while Emylee Piñero placed sixth in informative speaking.
Forensics consists of a speech and debate team that gives students the opportunity to use their speaking, analytical and critical thinking skills.
Carlos Piñero hopes his speaking experience will help his plan to become a Christian public speaker.
“ It gives me an arena to practice speaking and get helpful feedback,” he said.
Piñero said his experience helps in many ways.
“Good communication skill is the number one quality employers look for in employees,” he said. “Forensics teaches you organization, poise and the ability to think on your feet, all of which employers are seeking.”
Amy Arellano, a speech instructor and one of the coaches for the forensics team, said the team practiced from 10 to 20 hours a week for this event.
Subjects and forms ranged from platform speeches to debates, and the students met twice a week for one hour per event coaching sessions.
Arellano said she is proud of the students’ achievements and the hard work that paid off for the tournament.
“The team did very well in this competition, and for us to be the only community college to place says a lot about our program,” she said.
