30th Smelt was a hoot!

[NoGraveButTheSea]

Hey folks so here's the rundown.

Open Parli

Semi-Final
PLU (Andrew Orr and Adam Holt) Opp.
Defeated
Northwest (Casey DeGenarro and Chandra Porter)

Northwest KH (Jon King and Troy Henley) Opp.
Defeated
Lewis And Clark (Ray Utech and Kit Shelton)

Both Decisions were 2-1
Res.="The U.S. should get out of the gambling business"

Final
PLU OH (Gov.) over Northwest KH
2-1 decision
Res.="This place is unhealthy"

Speakers
1. Paul Southwick (George Fox)
2. Andrew Orr (PLU)
3. Troy Henley (Northwest)
4. Jon King (Northwest)
5. Will Cooley (Lower Columbia) YAY ME!!!

Sweeps:
1. PLU
2.Mt Hood
3. Lower Columbia (we don't do interp LOL)

13 schools attended w/ 101 total competitors.

The awards ceremony was highighted by a short program honoring MIke Dugaw on the 30th Smelt.
Amanda Feller from PLU MC'd

Dugaw recieved awards from two LCC alumni first Shannon Valdivia (class of 90') who is the current coach at Mt. Hood.
And second from Nolan Lavoie (class of 2000) who is currently a grad. assistant at PLU.
The speeches concluded with the always awesome Orv Iverson (who is the only person to have been to all 30 Smelts) and has been friends with Mike since they were both competitors in college, roasting him. Followed by Gary Gillespie (1979 Smelt NDT debate champ) and current coach at Northwest College giving Mike a plaque from NW coaches honoring him.

Dugaw's two key remarks were "I'm not dead", and "I have done this for over 30 years because I like you guys and it's still fun."
I was in the back of the room w/ my team but im pretty sure Mike was choked up on the stage.
It was an awesome weekend.
P.S.
Congrats to Keith West and Paul Bingham for emphatically holdin' it down for NW forensics in Berkely this weekend.

[Western Amy]

Mad props (or whatever) to PLU and Northwest for holding down the fort (2nd year in finals in a row for that Northwest team).


This all makes me nostalgic for my fun times in the city that Green Day so lovingly immortalized.

And all praises due to Sir for his years (and years and years) of service to the community.


But come on Will, you know what we really care about.



WHO WON THE SMELTS????

[ML]

A certain anonymous PLU debater, whose initials are MJ, and whose other letters (in no particular order) are
"att ibben", got the van he was in on the way back from UO pulled over by the highway patrol, who gave him a stern lecture on the dangers of mooning other vehicles on the open road. More than a distraction, it can be deadly. And realllllllllly embarassing. Heh heh.

ML

[WWUPhil]

That is great. I have some other MJ related funny stories. I avoided the Smelt this year just so my old coach wouldn't give me a smelt. I am surprised he didn't give me one in my absence for a number of things...

Also, Tell Sir that I am sad I missed it. i would have loved to give a speech on his behalf, as a former student and quite a public speaker. Tell him that.

I want to hear about the other smelt winners.

[NoGraveButTheSea]

Next year one of our freshman who shall remain nameless will probably recieve a smelt for the following quote from a Diane Valdivia ballot (Which he picked up despite the indiscretions)

"Please do not scratch your crotch or behind areas while you are speaking it is very distracting."

[pattybar]

Hey there,

Since I'm from another area where there are smelt... strange but true... how does one win a smelt in debate??

Patty

[Western Amy]

The Smelt is given to anyone who might deserve some dead frozen fish in a baggie. Basically, it's for foolish behavior in the context of debate.

For example, Phil won his last year for writing on a ballot "I feel as though I'm in a strip club and all the dancers are staring at <em>me</em>"

Now for some people, winning a smelt is a sign you've arrived. Just ask Alan Tauber, who won his his freshman year, when he wasn't even at the tournament in question. He's almost as proud of that as he is of winning the NPTE.