University of Wisconsin–Madison Forensics Team - Development of The Team (A Timeline)

Development of The Team (A Timeline)

1991

• The 1989 Division I National Champion UW–Madison Forensics Team is discontinued due to budget cuts.

January 2002

• Christopher Klundt, Adam Klann, and AJ Hofland traveled to the Indiana Championships at Indiana University to videotape all the forensics categories as well as to interview coaches and competitors.
• Collegiate Forensics League of UW student organization founded.

February - April 2002

• Indiana University, Ripon College, and UW–Eau Claire express interest in helping start the program.

Summer 2002

• Associated Students of Madison Operations Grant received for $2000.
• Volunteer coach, Cara Peterson agrees to help out in the beginning of the season.

Fall 2002

• Students begin competing in October, placing 6th out of 15 teams at the first tournament (12 students attended, along with Cara Peterson).
• 5 tournaments were attended in the fall, 5 students qualified for the NFA national tournament, and at least one student made finals at every tournament.
• Collegiate Forensics League of UW gets office space with other student organizations in Union South.

Spring 2003

• Team travels (expenses paid by students) to California for a West Coast regional tournament.
• Volunteer coach resigns due to lack of time.
• Team takes 4th place at state, with several individual finalists.
• Team travels to the Novice National Tournament and places 3rd in Division I overall sweepstakes. Dave Sargent places 2nd in Individual Sweepstakes and is the National Duo Champion (partner Samantha Sostarich).
• Further discussion with Dean Fitzpatrick provides promising contact with L&S Honors Department (director: Cyrena Pondrom).

Summer 2003

• Honors agrees to sponsor the team.
• ASM operations grant received for $1000.

Fall 2003

• Only two tournaments affordable and 3 students qualify for the NFA national tournament.
• Honors grants the team ~$8000 to pay for coaching and tournament expenses in the spring semester.
• Ben Jedd expresses interest in helping coach.

Spring 2004

• Ben Jedd signs on with Honors as a part-time paid coach.
• Team travels to 3 regional tournaments, placing 1st in Small Team Sweepstakes at the Jackson Purchase Swing in KY.
• Active competitors increases to 11 students, and the team placed 3rd at the State tournament.
• 8 students qualify for and attend the NFA National Tournament, where the team placed 16th in Division II.
• 7 students attend the District qualifying tournament for the AFA National Tournament, and 4 students qualify (including 2 District champions).
• Team places 51st in the country at the AFA National tournament in Long Beach, CA.

Fall 2004

• Recruitment succeeds, and active student participation is holding steady at about 15 students (another 25% increase).
• Successfully attend 7 tournament weekends, while earning 5 qualifications for the AFA National Tournament and 15 for the NFA National Tournament.
• Permanent office space granted in 4116 Helen C. White (College Library).

Spring 2005

• MCSC grant accepted for $800 to be used for minority recruitment opportunities.
• Team places third at state tournament, with two state champions and 2nd place overall speaker (Christopher Klundt).
• 5 students qualify for the AFA National Tournament in a total of 15 events. Emily Barsness is District Champion in ADS.
• 8 students qualify for the NFA National Tournament in a total of 21 events.
• Team wins TCFL tournament Feb. 15th.
• Team places 8th (Div. I) at the NFA National Tournament, and has one quarterfinalist (Christopher Klundt - Informative Speaking).

Spring 2006

• Team places 2nd at Wisconsin State Tournament.
• Team places 26th at the AFA National Tournament, and has two National Finalists. These are the first UW–Madison finalists since 1990.
• National Finalist: David Sargent, 6th in Drama (AFA).
• National Finalist: Emily Barsness, 6th in Prose (AFA).
• Team places 6th (Div. I) at the NFA National Tournament
• Quarterfinalist: Anna-Lisa Dahlgren and Thom Rehwaldt (Duo)

Spring 2007

• Team places 2nd at Wisconsin State Tournament. Margin between 1st and 2nd place is only 14 points.
• Team places 23rd at the AFA National Tournament, and has numerous quarterfinalists.
• Semifinalist: Anna-Lisa Dahlgren (Communication Analysis)
• Team places 3rd (Div. I) at the NFA National Tournament, and has numerous quarterfinalists.
• National Finalist: Emily Barsness and Thom Rehwaldt, 5th in Duo (NFA).

Summer 2007

• Team teaches a public speaking course through the UW PEOPLE Program.

Spring 2008

• 3 UW students qualify for the AFA National Individual Events Tournament in Austin, TX.
• 15 students qualify for the NFA National Tournament in Nashville, TN.
• Team places 2nd at the Wisconsin State Tournament.
• Team places 26th at the AFA National Tournament.
• Semifinalist: Anna-Lisa Dahlgren (Communication Analysis)
• Team places 6th (Div. I) at the NFA National Tournament, and has numerous elimination rounds.
• Semifinalist: Anna-Lisa Dahlgren (Persuasion)
• Semifinalist: Anna-Lisa Dahlgren and Mark Ruff (Duo)
• National Finalist: Anna-Lisa Dahlgren, 4th in Experimental Event: Biographical Informative (NFA).