The Forensics Team
by Maralyn Fink
Having learned about a Forensics Team at the high school, I headed back to the halls of the school. This time I knew that I would be able to really help this team, after all, I have watched CSI for many years.
After meeting the team and hearing what exactly it is that they do, I once again knew that this was not going to be my time.
There are about 25 team members on the team, freshmen thru seniors. Forensics is a spin-off of the Drama Club. The Team performs from pieces that are chosen for them from several categories. This could be from a book, an event, or a play. It is then cut down to the time that is allowed to perform that particular piece. There are individual and duo performances.
This is a spring event and practice is a minimum of 4 times a week, usually from 3-5 pm. Forensics has been meeting for 5 years and was started by and is directed by Ashley Bowen. Miss Bowen started this team her first teaching year at St Johns and also has experience in doing this at other locations. This club has been expanding in the past few years and is now offered as an elective class.
Their main performances are done at competitions which are called Invitationals and involve four different schools before they can make Regionals. To reach their goal, their performances are judged and points are earned. The more points earned over the season, the better their chance to make the State competition. Their performances are critiqued by judges and suggestions given if any improvement is needed.
This team is very much like a family. They are a very close group and a majority of the members also belong to the Drama Club. They are very supportive of each other and have a peer mentor group that also critiques them.
There is no school funding for this team, and car-pooling is the way they get to their performance. The group do a few fund raisers, of selling roses at Homecoming, t-shirts and have done a car wash in the fall.
I want to mention a section called “Public Address” where they write their own speeches, memorize, and perform them with different categories at different schools.
The group of six students that I met say that Miss Bowen is a wonderful coach who takes a lot of her time to do this. She is very experienced. Luke Smith added that Miss Bowen is a supportive, positive role model.
Forensics is a very prestigious organization; it is not just acting.
Thank you to the members of the team I met with and Miss Bowen. This information was provided by:
Mallory Cormier
Luke Smith
Zoe Schultheiss
Holly Flynn
Kara Price
Whitney Pung
Thanks kids, and good luck with your upcoming competitions.
