UA Speech Team Members Bring Home Championship, All-America Honor

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — University of Alabama students Collin Metcalf and Hannah Fowler are just the latest in a long line of national champions and All-Americans.

Metcalf, a junior from Cantonment, Fla., and Fowler, a senior from Harrisburg, Ill., are members of the Alabama Forensic Council, UA’s speech and debate team, which recently competed in the American Forensic Association’s National Individual Events Tournament, where Metcalf won a national championship in extemporaneous speaking, and Fowler was named to the 2014 AFA-NIET All-American Team.

“This was the third National Final Round appearance for Collin in extemp,” said Bobby Imbody, director of UA’s Alabama Forensic Council. “He was a favorite for the round before the tournament even began. I had hoped he would earn a title in his senior year, but once I saw the round, I knew he had a very good chance of winning.”

Metcalf placed 10^th overall in the competition, with an additional third-place finish in impromptu speaking and a quarter-final appearance in persuasive speaking.

Fowler placed ninth in the program oral interpretation category.

“Hannah earned her place on the All-American squad by excelling in the three areas the team requires: competitive success, academic success and community service,” Imbody said. “She is very deserving of the recognition as a four-year team member and one of the best students UA has to offer. The All-American team is in place to recognize well-rounded students in our activity, and Hannah is the epitome of that.”

Overall, the team placed ninth out of 83 colleges and universities competing. Below are other semi- and quarter-finalists from the team as well as a full list of team members.

Semi-finalists:

Clifton Baker, junior, Tuscaloosa, program oral interpretation

Tiffany Hornback, sophomore, Palm Beach, Fla., persuasive speaking

Quarter-finalists:

Erika Wade, senior, Birmingham, poetry interpretation

Kalyn Lee, sophomore, Hoover, persuasive speaking

Other Team Members:

Hunter Bethea, Fort Walton Beach, Fla.

Jamarey Carter, Pleasant Grove

Spencer Cornelius, Yukon, Okla.

Madison Darling, Prattville

Harrison DeFalco, Tuscaloosa

Michael DiLucchio, Brentwood, Tenn.

Katherine Leigh Harville, Morristown, Tenn.

Eric Marable, Birmingham

Mia McClintic, Oswego, Ill.

Blake McDonald, Prattville

Kevin Pabst, Niceville, Fla.

Dakota Park-Ozee, Orlando, Fla.

Katerina Peña, Bay City, Fla.

Alex Svenpladsen, Franklin, Tenn.

Jack York, Cincinnati, Ohio