May 17, 2000

CHS forensics team tough talkers at state contest

By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
       If you think forensics is something akin to a stuffy presidential debate, only with younger participants who are slightly less animated - then think again.
      Forensics team members at Central High School cover the full range of verbal expression from drama, poetry, prose and storytelling to traditional oratory, informative and extemporaneous speaking. Acting and debate are not part of the picture in a forensics presentation and students stand still on stage without any props. They simply recite and interpret a piece of literature in front of a team of judges, using voice, inflection and hand and facial expressions to convey meaning.
      In the case of the 14-member team this year, double in size from last year's team, judges liked what they heard.
      Eight students showed well enough in district and regional competitions to compete in the Michigan Interscholastic Forensics Association State Tournament in Ann Arbor on May 5 and 6. Three students qualified as semi-finalists and three as finalists in this tournament, a huge accomplishment for this young team competing against forensics powerhouses from schools downstate.
      "Just by qualifying for the state tournament, these kids are already among the top 18 in their category in the state," said Darren DePuydt, coach of the Central High Forensics team for three years. "These kids succeed by energy and a desire to improve. Our team finished among the top ten this year at state and that is unusual considering where we started from: just five members three years ago, all seniors."
      Making it to a state tournament was a lot of hard work for both the team and individual members. The forensics team, an extracurricular activity, met after school almost daily from January to May to practice. As the season progressed, members pitted their skills against other forensics teams in a series of tournaments at the district, regional and state level.
      At the beginning of the season, each member chose a category and a piece that they used throughout the season. Coach DuPuydt has a file of poems, stories and speeches that lend themselves to forensics. In some categories, such as oratory, students can write their own piece. DuPuydt helped each member choose a suitable piece or, if they were writing something original, made sure that if fit into forensics style.
      Despite giving the same piece time and again, forensics team members must generate it fresh each time. Sometimes circumstances do require that they move into the realm of acting. At the state tournament, Travis Miller recited the poem "A Death in the Arctic" before judges in a sweltering room.
      "I had to look cold the entire time even thought I was wearing pants and in a 90-degree room," said Miller, a junior who placed third in poetry at the state tournament. "I had to be shivering while I was sweating."
      Senior Erick Johnson, who took fourth-place in the state in storytelling, decided on an absurd story for his piece. Last year he presented an original poem and this year he wanted to try something less formal. His story required a lot of voices and characterization so he spent the season honing each character, using suggestions from teammates to fill in blanks.
      "Forensics helped my communication and I put a lot of work into my piece because it is something I love to do," said Johnson, who hopes to start a forensics team at the University of Michigan, where he will be studying next fall. "Everyone works as a team here and I have to thank a lot of my teammates for voices or ideas."
      While most people would rather have dental surgery than give a public presentation, forensics team members learn to be polished professionals when it comes to speaking in front of an audience.
      "Being on the team has helped my confidence and I don't worry about public speaking anymore," said Carrie McCambridge, a junior who presented a dramatic poem in competitions this year.
      DuPuydt agrees that forensics team members are building lifetime skills and self-assurance when faced with public speaking.
      "People don't realize how many jobs there are where you have to get up in front of people and speak and be effective," he noted. "These kids don't worry about it, they just think it's fun."