Suffolk University student Josh Breen took first place in Prose competition as the University's Forensics team hosted the 19th annual Boston Speech and Debate Tournament.

One hundred and ten students from 18 colleges and universities competed in individual speaking, interpretation, and Lincoln-Douglas debate events during the Feb. 6-7 tournament, sponsored by the Communication and Journalism Department.

Lafayette College won the Debate portion of both tournaments, while Tallahassee Community College won both Individual Events portions as well as the overall Swing award.

Suffolk students fared well in competition, with TJ Golden placed second in extemporaneous speaking. Josh Breen, TJ Golden, Jon Trunfio, Joe Stephens, and Karolyne Crowe contributed to a fifth-place finish in Individual Events team results.

Assistant Professor Bruce Wickelgren and Jodi Nevola coach the Suffolk Forensics team. Associate Professor Vicki Karns helped run the Suffolk University tournament.

Several Suffolk Alumni returned to campus in various roles, including Heather Erickson, coach of the Emerson individual events team, and Veronica Carlino and Kerlin Aristilde, who served as judges.

The University of Florida co-hosted the two-tournament swing with Suffolk University.

Defending national champions Western Kentucky attended the Suffolk Tournament, along with students from Maine, Missouri, Virginia, Florida, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Ohio, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania,

Harvard, Emerson, the University of Maine, and Bridgewater State were among the New England regional schools involved in the event.