ATHENS, Ohio (Nov. 10, 2008)—The Ohio University Forensics Speech and Debate team placed third among 48 schools at the the 61st L.E. Norton Invitational hosted by Bradley University in Peoria, Ill., Nov. 8-9.

Cassese Director of Forensics Dan West said the invitational is one of the largest and most competitive Individual Event Tournaments held during the regular season.

“With most major speech teams represented, success at the Norton is often considered a litmus test for the national tournaments in the spring,” he said. “The Bobcats had an amazing weekend.”

The Ohio University team was overcome by only two teams: defending national champions Western Kentucky University and 6th-ranked George Mason University. 

The team will compete at the Classic at Bowling Green State University this upcoming weekend. Complete results from the Norton Invitational are as follows:

TEAM SWEEPSTAKES
3rd Place - OHIO UNIVERSITY

NOVICE PENTAHALON
1st Place - Austin Temple

NOVICE DRAMATIC DUO
4th Place - Nadine Ajaka & Austin Temple 5th Place - Jeremy Frazer & Austin Temple

NOVICE DRAMATIC INTERPRETATION
3rd Place - Nadine Ajaka

VARSITY EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING
1st Place - Dan Glaser
Semi Finals - Ted Dacey

VARSITY IMPROMPTU SPEAKING
3rd Place - Spark Tabor
Semi Finals - Dan Glaser

NOVICE IMPROMPTU
Semi Finals - Nick Prephan
Semi FInals - Austin Temple

VARSITY INFORMATIVE SPEAKING
1st Place - Dan Glaser

NOVICE INFORMATIVE SPEAKING
5th Place - Nick Prephan

NOVICE POETRY INTERPRETATION
4th Place - Annie Farinella
5th Place - Jeremy Frazer

VARSITY PROSE INTERPRETATION
Semi Finals - Dani Bernat
Semi Finals - Jill Flauto

NOVICE PROSE INTERPRETATION
2nd Place - Annie Farinella
3rd Place - Nadine Ajaka
4th Place - Austin Temple
Semi Finals - Jeremy Frazer

VARSITY RHETORICAL CRITICISM
5th Place - Dan Glaser