Olson Begins Spring Term on a Tear

Elle Olson has started the Spring term by winning Extemporaneous Speaking at the Fred Scheller Invitational (at Pacific University) and the Western Forensics Association Tournament (at University of Puget Sound). Olson also won Impromptu Speaking at the WFA tournament, which was held Feb. 12-14. In addition to these first place finishes, Olson also placed second in Impromptu and sixth in Poetry at the Fred Scheller Invitational, while adding a fourth place finish in Poetry at WFA.

Senior Dorothy Anne Mix also added to the Pio success at the Scheller, placing first in Prose and third in Impromptu. At the WFA tournament, Mix placed third in impromptu, fifth in Prose and fifth in Poetry. Mix also qualified her Poetry for the AFA National Individual Events Tournament (based on cumulative ranks across three tournaments).

Also advancing to elimination rounds were: Ben Tyson (junior Extemp) at the Scheller, Pam Garman (5th place, Impromptu) at WFA, and Halah Ilias (6th place, junior Extemp and semi-finalist, junior Impromptu).

The squad will send a wave of debaters through the Columbia Gorge and into Walla Walla, Washington, where the team will participate in two tournaments at Whitman College on Feb. 19-21.