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History of the Speech and Debate Team

The CSUF Speech and Debate Team has a history as long as the university.  It is divided into 5 Dynastic periods, each marked by the director.  Competitive dynasties are more difficult to mark.  The links below can guide you through all periods.

If you are an alumni, we strongly encourage you to visit your era of competition and share your stories.  We'd love to hear from you!

HELP FILL IN THE GAPS:  The chart at the bottom of this page shows what we know and catalogues what we don't about CSUF history.  We are especially interested in the names of anyone who qualified for the AFA-NIET, the NDT qualifiers in '83, '85, and '89, and the accuracy of the NDT qualifier list from 1970-1983.

Trophy ArchivesPictures of all the trophies we couldn't keep with as much information about them as we have.  If one of these is yours, let us know!

COMPLETE LISTINGS follow below.  They include a list of every student who has ever qualified for the NDT, the AFA-NIET, or appeared in the elimination rounds at CEDA nationals.

COMPLETE LISTING OF CSUF QUALIFIERS FOR THE National Debate Tournament

CSUF at the NDT; 100% accurate from 1990 on.  1970 is the first year we attended the NDT; clearing teams 1970-1973 are accurate, although I don’t know if a second team attended those years. 

CSUF at the NDT

Year

Team

Director/Coaches

1970

John Dolan & Patty Peoples (octofinalist)

Lucy Keele

1971

John Dolan & Patty Peoples (first round; octofinalists; Dolan 10th speaker)

Lucy Keele

1972

Patty Peoples & Robert Conway (octofinalist)

Lucy Keele

1973

Patty Peoples & Gary Dolinski (missed clearing on tab room error)

Lucy Keele

1974

Gary Dolinski & Pam Gray

Lucy Keele

1975

Gary Dolinski & Larry Adams

Lucy Keele

1976

Gary Dolinski & Lee Phillips

Lucy Keele

1977

Lee Phillips & Tracy Bartell

Lucy Keele

1978

Leon Rosseau Harris & Thomas Mohr (first round)

Lucy Keele

1979

No qualifiers

 

1980

Tom Mohr & Leon Harris

Lucy Keele

1981

No qualifiers

Bob Gass

1982

No qualifiers

 

1983

DID QUALIFY

 

1984

No qualifiers

Bob Gass

1985

Mike Dolny & Cliff Stevens?

Bob Gass

1986

Jon Bruschke & Mike Dolny

Bob Gass & Ed Hinck

1987

Jon Bruschke & Chris Henderson; Mike Buff & Tammy Shedroff

Bob Gass & Ed Hinck

1988

Jon Bruschke & Chris Daley (double-octofinalists)

Bob Gass & Ed Hinck

1989

Chris Daley & Tammy Shedroff ?

Bob Gass & Ed Hinck

1990

Chris Daley & Walter Wright

Bob Gass & Jeanine Congalton

1991

Chris Daley & Heather Reynolds

Bob Gass & Jeanine Congalton

1992

Caleb Feeler & Eric Garcia

Bob Gass & Jeanine Congalton

1993

Caleb Feeler & Greg West

Bob Gass & Jeanine Congalton

1994

Greg West & Steve Crow

Bob Gass & Jeanine Congalton

1995

Darci Sears & Greg West

Bob Gass & Jeanine Congalton

1996

No qualfiers; Wake

Jeanine Congalton

1997

No qualifiers?; Liberty

Jeanine Congalton

1998

Laura Heider & Demetrius Lambrinos; Michele Choe & Ramir Hernandez.  Heider 6th speaker; Lambrinos 9th speaker, double-octofinalists, first round.

Jeanine Congalton & Jon Bruschke

1999

Chris Giglio & Aaron Kudla

Jeanine Congalton & Jon Bruschke

2000

Toni Nielson & Cameron Ward

Jeanine Congalton & Jon Bruschke

2001

Cameron Ward & Toni Nielson; Josh Clark & Amy Dempster

Jeanine Congalton & Jon Bruschke

2002

No qualifiers

Jeanine Congalton & Jon Bruschke

2003

Jason Giffard & Josh Clark

Jeanine Congalton & Jon Bruschke

2004

Cameron Ward & Josh Clark; Matt Kennedy & Randy Seidman.  Ward & Clark quarterfinalists.

Jon Bruschke & Sue Peterson

2005

Brenda Montes & Luis Magallon; Nader Alsheikh & Randy Seidman.  Montes 20th speaker.

Jon Bruschke & Sylvia Symonds

2006

Brenda Montes & Luis Magallon. Octo-finalists (won double-octofinals on a 5-0 decision); Montes 4th speaker, Magallon 20th speaker.

Jon Bruschke & Toni Nielson.

2007 Brenda Montes & Luis Magallon.  Parija Patel and Pooja Chopra. Double-octofinalists.  Montes 4th speaker, Magallon 7th speaker.   Jon Bruschke & Toni Nielson.
2008 Luis Magallon & Caitlin Gray.  Magallon 4th speaker. Jon Bruschke & Toni Nielson

 

CSUF elimination round participants at CEDA nationals

Year

Teams

Coaches

2002

Toni Nielson & Cameron Ward (quarterfinalists), Josh Clark & Amy Dempster (triple-octo-finalists).

Jeanine Congalton & Jon Bruschke (Justin Skarb, Adam Symonds, Jason Cramer, & Casey Arbenz, GA)

2003

Serena Turley & RJ Dolbin (octo-finalists); Josh Clark & Jason Giffard (triple-octo-finalists)

Jeanine Conglaton & Jon Bruschke

2004

Cameron Ward & Josh Clark (semi-finalists); Nader Alsheikh & Matt Kennedy (triple-octofinalists)

Jon Bruschke & Sue Peterson

2005

Brenda Montes & Luis Magallon (octo-finalists); Matt Kennedy & Andy Liu (Columbia) (quarterfinalists)

Jon Bruschke & Sylvia Symonds

2006

Brenda Montes & Luis Magallon (double-octofinalists); Amy Wooten & Parija Patel (triple-octo-finalists); Dale Morrison & Josh Pang (triple-octo-finalists).  Montes 2nd speaker.  Magallon 5th speaker.

Jon Bruschke & Toni Nielson

2007 Brenda Montes & Luis Magallon (quarterfinalists).  Montes 5th speaker and Debater of the Year; Magallon 7th speaker.

Jon Bruschke & Toni Nielson

2008 Caitlin Gray & Luis Magallon (double-octofinalists).  Magallon 3rd speaker.

Jon Bruschke & Toni Nielson

 

CSUF Qualifiers for the AFA-NIET

Year

Student

Coaches

1999

Marcus Omari Bowman

Nise Frye

2003

Sarah Jay and Alex Jazan

Nise Frye

2007

No qualifiers

 
2008 Josh Hamzehee (Quarters, POI and Prose; Semis DUI and Duo).  Shae (Quarters, POI and Informative; Semis Prose and Duo).  Qualifier: Jorge DeLeon.  Overall 21st in sweeps. Pam Elkind.