The Barking Bulldogs opened the 2023-24 season at the Golden Gate Opener at San Francisco State University with an excellent performance. The tournament, which ran on Sept. 29 and 30, saw a great start, despite being the first tournament for most team members.
Faith Van Hoven won a gold medal in the novice IPDA debate, and Greg Valencia and Thomas Mulick both won bronze medals. Furthermore, Greg was the first speaker (most speaker points), Faith was third and Thomas was tenth. Ornaldo Gonzalez took fourth place in novice extemporaneous speaking, and Grant Myers was seventh in novice extemporaneous speaking. In addition, Faith won third place in novice after dinner speaking. This was Greg’s second tournament and all other team members’ first tournament.
The Bulldogs were represented by Camalah Saleh, Faith Van Hoven, Grant Meyers, Gergorio Valencia, Hannah Chand, Jessika Torres, Marissa Williams, Ornaldo Gonzalez, Raul Castillo, Royce Garcia and Sean Baize.
On October 20-22, the Barking Bulldogs took a strong squad of competitors to the University of Nevada. Every team member received favorable comments from the judges, and several awards were won.
Hannah Chand placed fifth place in Open Prose Interpretation. In IPDA, Camalah Saleh won second speaker, Grant Meyers sixth speaker and Royce Garcia tenth speaker, and in the Novice International Public Debate Association event, Garcia was the silver medalist and Saleh the bronze medalist. In Novice After Dinner Speaking, Faith Van Hoven placed second, and Ornaldo Gonzalez placed 6th. Also, in Novice Extemporaneous Speaking, Saleh placed 6th, Garcia placed 9th and Jessika Torres placed tenth.
The Barking Bulldogs attended a forensics tournament in Stockton (co-hosted by UOP and San Joaquin Delta College) on Nov. 3-5. Faith Van Hoven, Grant Meyers, Gregorio Valencia, Jessika Torres, Ornaldo Gonzalez, Raul Castillo and Thomas Mulick competed for Fresno State.
And they did a great job–the Barking Bulldogs took first place sweepstakes in the limited entry (less than ten competitors) category. The entire team contributed to this award because each debate win, and each top finish in an individual speech round earns sweepstakes points. In addition, Faith Van Hoven finished in fourth place in the open After Dinner Speaking and Faith and Thomas Mulick were both gold medalists in novice debate. The whole team contributed to the gold medal success.
The Barking Bulldogs attended a forensics tournament in Stockton, co-hosted by the University of the Pacific and San Joaquin Delta College on Nov. 3-5. Faith Van Hoven, Grant Meyers, Gregorio Valencia, Jessika Torres, Ornaldo Gonzalez, Raul Castillo and Thomas Mulick competed for Fresno State. The Barking Bulldogs took first place sweepstakes in the limited entry (less than ten competitors) category. In addition, Faith Van Hoven finished in fourth place in open After Dinner Speaking and Faith and Thomas Mulick were both gold medalists in novice debate.
The whole team contributed to the gold medal success. The topic was mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations, and the Bulldogs were assigned the affirmative side. The team had 30 minutes to prepare after the topic was announced, and the entire team and coaching staff commandeered a room and got their laptops, phones and tablets out so they could contribute ideas for the debates. After that, the gold medalists went out and sealed the deal with some great debating.
Coaches Douglas Fraleigh, Natalie Meany Cavallero, Arley Rodriguez and Rhiannon Genilla attended the trip and did a great job getting the Bulldogs ready for the tournament.
The College of Arts and Humanities at Fresno State 
It pleases me so much to see competitive forensics continuing at Fresno State. Although I never participated at the college level, I know many who did and who went on to become forensic teachers at various high schools. Well done, Barking Dogs.
LikeLike