DIRECTOR
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ANDREW EILOLA is the Interim Director of Forensics at GMU and could not be more excited about it! Originally from Minnesota, Andrew has been involved with forensics since 2004. He received BAs in sociology and communication from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. He has a master’s degree in health communication from George Mason University and is currently finishing his PhD in health communication. In competition, Andrew was a national finalist in persuasive speaking and had success in a variety of other events. Since arriving at Mason in 2012 as a graduate assistant, he’s had the privilege of coaching 9 national finalists, including a national champion in persuasion. Andrew has a passion for teaching and the educational value forensics has to offer to all who are a part of it. He is grateful to have found such a welcoming and positive environment at GMU and hopes to continue the legacy that started long before him.
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COACHES
The job of a coach is to teach students to see vitality in themselves"
JON TYREE INFO coach Jon Tyree is a former GMU competitor turned coach. Jon grew up in a forensics family and attended his first tournament when he was 1 month old. When not coaching, he uses the skills he learned from forensics at the National Alliance of Forest Owners, a forest advocacy group in Washington D.C. 
KARIN NORDIN pRO & poi coach Karin is riled up for her second year as a coach at George Mason! After graduating with a Bachelors degree from Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota in 2015 and a Masters degree in Communication Studies at the University of Alabama in 2017, she headed straight to Virginia to pursue a PhD. She’s currently researching domestic violence through a health communication lens as well as student mindset and engagement. When she’s not in class or teaching it, Karin loves coaching her two all time favorite events: POI and Prose. 
Zack Dittami PRO COACH Zack is ecstatic to be rejoining his Mason family as a coach this season. As a Massachusetts native, Zack is a Boston boy at heart - but has now been in the VA/DC area for nearly 7 years! In college, Zack competed in final rounds at Norton, HFO, and AFA-NIET where he finished 3rd in prose and 5th in DI. What he hopes to offer his students is a creative imagination and an ability to inspire and motivate. 
Victoria Ledford IMP COACH Victoria Ledford LOVES coaching the GMU Speech Team. She’s been in forensics for a while now, going on year 11. Victoria enjoyed competing and coaching at her alma mater Marshall University. At GMU, she presently coaches Impromptu and Communication Analysis. She also loves public address so much that she’s happy to be one of two Genre Coordinators for all public-address events. Victoria loves all speaking events and believes that each serves a unique and important educational purpose. When she’s not coaching GMU speech team students, you can find her working on her PhD in Health Communication at neighboring school University of Maryland, doing artsy and crafty things on the rare occasion she has free time, and lifting weights every morning she has the chance. |
GEORGE KUEPPERS CA & POE COACH George Kueppers is a Graduate Assistant coach entering his 4th year on staff at George Mason University, where he also completed his Master of Arts degree in Communication in 2017 and is currently pursuing his Ph.D in Communication. George hails from Minnesota where he competed in forensics starting as a 7th grader in the event Storytelling. George completed Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and Global Studies at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota where he continued competing in forensics and also coached the Speech Team at Moorhead High School. George has had the privilege of working with six national finalists and one national champion across three different events during his first three years as a college coach, and he believes forensics is a powerful tool for growth and learning. Upon finishing his doctorate degree, George hopes to continue coaching and teaching as a Forensics Director and Professor of Communication, so that he can continue giving back to the activity he loves. 
ALEKHYA TALLAPAKA ext & pers coach Alekhya is so excited to be coaching at George Mason University for its 48th season! Originally from the frozen tundra (aka Minnesota), Alekhya is majoring in Global Affairs while concentrating on International Development, with a minor in Gender and Women Studies. While not doing speech, Alekhya can be found making tofu, reading novels about the Indian-American diaspora, and obsessively tweeting to world leaders. Alekhya is also a content writer at a digital grassroots technology company, where she can use skills she learned from speech in the real world. She could not be more excited about the upcoming year with her wonderful family! 
Lane Schwager DI & ADS COACH Lane is beyond proud to be joining the George Mason family this year! Coming from California State University, Los Angeles, where she received her B.A. and M.A. in Communication Studies, Lane made her return to the east coast to earn her PhD in Strategic Communication. As a scholar, Lane’s primary research is based in business communication, public relations, and media activism. For the team, Lane is lucky to coach her two favorite events: DI and ADS! |
XAVIER D. CLARK POI COACH Xavier D. Clark comes to George Mason from Austin, Texas. He is a first year PhD student in Health and Strategic Communication. He completed his BA in Political Communication at The University of Texas at Austin in 2016 where he was the officer of Texas Speech Team and Coach. He is coaching Program Oral Interpretation. His favorite celebrities shows include: Beyonce, Oprah, Michelle Obama, and Blue Ivy. He loves fashion, slick shade, art, and church. He loves fashion and encouraging people to be his best. He is stoked for this year’s ability to be fabulous! 
KATE POLIT IMP COACH Kate Polit is thrilled to rejoin the Mason forensics team. After getting her undergraduate and masters degree from Mason, she took a few years off to the cheer the team on from the sidelines. This year she gets to return to her first love, Limited Prep. She will be one of LP’s genre coordinators and will be co-coaching Impromptu. When not coaching speech, Kate is a government technology reporter — feel free to ask her all of your questions about cloud, data centers, and IT modernization. She is based in Chicago, and enjoys Skype coaching, going to the dog park, and spending time with her forensics family. When Kate grows up she wants to be Chrissy Tiegen. 
SAM ABNEY EXT COACH Sam graduated from George Mason University in 2016 with a Bachelor's in Communication. During his tenure on the GMU team, he competed in almost every event (except poetry) and was a top 10 Individual Sweepstakes speaker at the 2006 AFA-NIET. Since graduating, he has dedicated his time to strengthening the Washington, D.C. non-profit theater scene. In addition to coaching for Mason, Sam is currently the Membership Coordinator at Arena Stage and a theater critic for BroadwayWorld. |
STUDENTS
SENIORS
“Mr. Play It Safe was afraid to fly
He packed his suitcase and kissed his kids goodbye”
Alanis Morissette, “Ironic”
NAME: Parker Roth
(Co-Captain) YEAR: Senior MAJOR: Political Communication HOMETOWN: Maple Plain, MN FAVORITE EVENTS: DI, POE Parker is gagged for his fourth year with Mason Forensics! A creative Gemini from small town MInnesota, he’s committed to creating the best space he can for his forensics family, and he’s so proud to lead a group of such incredible people. Outside of speech, Parker enjoys smiling, tattoos, unironic 90s fashion, and Kathy Bates’ performance as the Butcher in “American Horror Story: Roanoke”. Find him at tournaments for a hug and a giggle! |
“Love is or it ain't. Thin love ain't love at all." - Toni Morrison
NAME: Mernine Ameris
(Co-Captain) YEAR: Senior MAJOR: Public Administration HOMETOWN: Roselle, NJ FAVORITE EVENTS: DUO, PRO Mernine Ameris is a senior & captain studying Public Administration at George Mason University. She is originally from the best state in the world, the Garden State. She competed for Freehold Township High School and her favorite high school tournament was Yale, because it was always on her birthday. She loves speech a lot. She also loves other things like tiny&big dogs, chicken nuggets, good pens, slam poetry, Haitian beef patties, and Stranger Things. But speech is her first love. She's so excited to see what this year & the 48th season of #TheLegacy will bring! |
JUNIORS
"You must strive to find your own voice because the longer you wait to begin the less likely you are to find it at all."-
Robin Williams
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NAME: John Henry
YEAR: Junior MAJOR: History HOMETOWN: Bensalem, PA FAVORITE EVENTS: PERS, IMP John Henry is a junior studying History and Legal Studies. He comes from Bensalem, PA where he competed for Holy Ghost Prep Forensics. He can't be more excited to compete in his third year in college with Mason! In addition to being an Eagle Scout, John loves Wawa, Philly cheesesteaks, and cracking open a cold one with the boys. |
NAME: Chloe Zatorski
(Tournament Director) YEAR: Junior MAJOR: BA English HOMETOWN: Munster, IN FAVORITE EVENTS: DI, DUO Chloe is a rising junior at GMU who couldn’t be more thrilled to start another season with her speech family! When she isn’t doing speech things, Chloe is probably re-reading Perks of Being a Wallflower for the 14th time, pretending she can paint, or listening to angst-filled pop punk music. Chloe feels overwhelmingly lucky to be part of the amazing speech community and can’t wait to start spending her weekends in suits again! |
NAME: Daniel Altabet
(Alumni Liaison) YEAR: Junior MAJOR: Psychology HOMETOWN:Scarsdale, NY FAVORITE EVENTS:INFO, ADS, DUO Daniel Altabet is a Junior at Mason and cannot wait for another year with his GMU 4N6 fam. When Daniel isn't doing speech, he is probably cooking, eating, thinking about cooking or eating, or just watching Netflix. His personality type is INFJ. So, if you know what that means, you'll get along great. Daniel has been doing speech for 7 years now. He has always cherished the ability of this activity to foster both self-awareness and self-advocacy. Daniel could not be more thrilled to get back to performing alongside his best friends and teammates this year! 
NAME: Lauren "loco" Cocroft
YEAR: Junior MAJOR: Communications Media Production and Criticism HOMETOWN: Costa Mesa, CA FAVORITE EVENTS: ADS, PRO, Reader's Theatre (lol) Lauren is so thrilled to be a member of the George Mason family for it's 48th season! She just traveled all the way from California to experience weather for the first time and hopes to one day live on her friends' couches and be a professional comedian. When she isn't competing she's catching up on homework and sleep, but once she finishes that you can catch her painting, watching Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, or tweeting to fill the void of existential dread! 
"Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes." -Walt Whitman
NAME: Jenae Barnes
YEAR: Junior MAJOR: Global Affairs HOMETOWN: Loudoun, VA FAVOORITE EVENTS: ADS & EXT Jenae is so excited to be the newest member of the forensics team! She is enjoying her second year at Mason after transferring from northern va community college. She is currently pursuing her interests in International studes and global affairs, while exploring all that mason has to offer. In her spare time, she enjoys writing, reading black feminist lit, teaching classical piano, and learning aerial hoop. |
NAME: David Marques
YEAR: Junior MAJOR: Government & International Politics HOMETOWN: Elizabeth, NJ FAVORITE EVENTS: POI, POE David is super excited to join the legacy! After competing on the college circuit for year, he made the decision to join his new family and he could not be more excited. He enjoys Parks and Rec, reading the news and being a Facebook mom. 
NAME: Angelina Mitchell
YEAR: Junior MAJOR: Communications Media Production and Criticism HOMETOWN: Bronx, New York FAVORITE EVENTS: POI, ADS Angelina is so excited to be at George Mason University for its 48th season! She is a Junior studying Communications Media Production and Criticism. She transferred from Tallahassee Community College this school year and couldn’t be more excited to compete for her first year on Mason’s team! Angelina thoroughly enjoys playing guitar, singing and fighting the patriarchy. In addition to her passion for speech, she loves pina coladas and getting caught in the rain. 
"He doesn't call us the Batman and Robin of speechwriting. But he should, because that's what we are." - Toby Ziegler, The West Wing
NAME: Danny Drane
YEAR: Junior MAJOR: Government & International Politics HOMETOWN: Des Moines, IA FAVORITE EVENTS: EXT After growing up in the urban cornfield known as Des Moines, Iowa, Danny Drane found a home at GMU. He's currently a junior majoring in Government and International Politics, with minors in Data Analysis and International Security. If it weren't for Speech and Debate (and Twitter), he wouldn't know what he'd be doing with his life. Honestly. That's the tea. He couldn't be more excited to share his third year with The Legacy. |
SOPHOMORES
NAME: Tom Murabito
(Secretary) Year: Sophomore MAJOR: Government HOMETOWN: Erie, PA FAVORITE EVENTS: ADS, PRO Tom is thrilled to return to Fairfax and leave the tundra of his hometown, Erie, Pennsylvania He is so so so excited to be back competing this year! When he is not doing speech you can find Tom doing his homework, walking around the block, or calling his mom. Tom loves his car Little Red and his big Jim. 
NAME: Kendyl Kowalski
(Public Relations Coordinator) YEAR: Sophomore MAJOR: Public Relations HOMETOWN: Morristown, TN FAVORITE EVENTS: POI, DI, PRO Kendyl is thrilled to be back with her family on the Mason team. In the small amount of time that she isn’t obsessing over speech you could find her watching the Addams family, reading horoscopes, or planing her halloween costume no matter the time of year. Kendyl cannot wait to get back into a suit and performing with her family! #YouKnow 
“Great gowns...Beautiful gowns”- Aretha Franklin
NAME: Nick Steinmetz
YEAR: Sophomore MAJOR: Government & International Politics HOMETOWN: Fort Lauderdale, FL FAVORITE EVENTS: PERS, ADS Nick is super excited to start his first year on the team! He comes from Fort Lauderdale, FL where he competed for Saint Thomas Aquinas HS (Go Raiders!). When Nick isn't speeching, he’s probably watching Rupaul’s Drag Race or every version of the Real Housewives. A true floridian at heart, Nick loves the beach, boating and the Gators. He is also thrilled to spend another year in Virginia, a state that will still exist in 30 years. |
"No I'm from Iowa, I only work in outer space"-Captain Kirk
NAME: Jacob Thompson
(Recruitment Chair) YEAR: Sophomore MAJOR: Government and International politics and Conflict Analysis and Resolution HOMETOWN: Des Moines, IA FAVORITE EVENTS: EXT, IMP Jacob is entering his sophomore year at GMU where he is continuing to study International Security issues in multiple majors. While he does various PA’s his favorite events will always be the LP’s. Outside speech you will find him arguing about Iowa vs. Iowa state with Danny and watching the west wing. 
NAME: Haleigh McGirt
(Tournament Director) YEAR: Sophomore MAJOR: Psychology | Minor in Women and Gender StudiesHOMETOWN: Jupiter, FL FAVORITE EVENTS: POE, POI Haleigh is starting her sophomore year here at George Mason University, and she is thrilled to be back for her second year on Mason Forensics! Haleigh is glad to have moved away from the heat and humidity of her hometown in South Florida and finally to a place with seasons. Outside of speech, she is really into poetry, poetry, and more poetry. Haleigh cannot wait for the 48th season of the Legacy! |
FRESHMEN
"Please clap" - Jeb Bush
NAME: Drake Mason Leach
YEAR: Freshman MAJOR: Musical Theater HOMETOWN: Colleyville, Texas FAVORITE EVENTS: Duo, DI, ADS Drake is ecstatic to the join the team this year! He hails from Texas: Yee-Haw boys. He is a musical theater major who sings way too loud way too often and will be doing his darndest to make it onto Broadway one day. He enjoys cherry-flavored gummy straws, the green canned Pringles, and writing about himself in the third person. Oh, and the Dark Knight. That movie is his very favorite, don't talk to him about that if you don't want an hour of your time wasted. 
NAME: Natalie Cumming
YEAR: Freshman MAJOR: Performance with a Concentration on Musical Theatre HOMETOWN: Orono, MN FAVORITE EVENT: POE Natalie Cumming is so so happy to do what she loves everyday with her favorite people. She's incredibly friendly like a golden retriever but also can be really aggressive like a golden retriever. She has a dog who is the light of her life (Eddie). She also is an ambitious rockstar and cannot be stopped. Her favorite things include, videos of people answering questions wrongly, Broadway musicals, meditation, Chris Fleming, stage fails, talking about herself, Tom Murabito, soup, potatoes, and the sunrise. 
NAME: Hailey Rastrelli
YEAR: Freshman MAJOR: Global Affairs HOMETOWN: Palm City, FL FAVORITE EVENT: POE, POI Hailey Rastrelli (or Pastrami) is a rising freshman on the Mason team. She is absolutely ecstatic to leave the heat of Florida and experience seasons... like the rest of the country. When Hailey is not obsessing over speech (which is pretty much never) you’ll probably catch her having heated but logical... political and philosophical debates, talking about GMU or to her mom, reading a book (she’ll probably never finish), binge watching 5 different shows, reading her horoscope, and giving someone a makeover; all at the same time. Oh, and, she absolutely cannot wait to be apart of the legacy! 
"It's definitely not diabetes" - My mom (who was wrong)
NAME: Abby Hawkins
YEAR: Freshman MAJOR: Global Affairs + Arabic HOMETOWN: Rutland, VT FAVORITE EVENTS: EXT, INFO Abby is a freshman from Vermont which no, unfortunately, is not a part of Canada. In between procrastinating all things higher education, Abby can be found in a museum, petting cats, struggling to speak Catalan (sorry Pont fam), or pretending that 3 years of playing high school football taught her how to throw one properly. |
“Dayman (ah-ah-ah), fighter of the nightman (ah-ah-ah), champion of the sun.” - It’s always Sunny in Philadelphia
NAME: Izzie Larson
YEAR: Freshman MAJOR: Theater | Dance Minor HOMETOWN: Moorhead MN FAVORITE EVENTS: POI Poetry Duo Izzie is SUPER DUPER PUMPED to be a Patriot! Originally from Moorhead MN (dontcha know), Izzie competed for four years in high school, but wasn’t ready to hang up her suits following graduation. When she’s not working on speech, you can find her thrift shopping, dancing, longboarding, belting showtunes in the shower, watching movies or shows where kids cook, writing poetry and vlogging. GMU YOUKNOWWWW. 
“Have a good day!”
“Don’t tell me what to do.” - Drake and Josh
NAME: Christy Caudle
YEAR: Freshman MAJOR: Global Affairs HOMETOWN: Austin, TX FAVORITE EVENTS: DI, Duo Christy Caudle is a rising freshman on the team from the yeehaw state of Texas. After four years of competition, Christy is extremely excited to begin her collegiate speech career at Mason! When she isn’t doing speech, she quoting Disney movies or Drake and Josh and sleeping. Christy is looking forward to getting to know her new family and experiencing all that this season has to offer! 
“If you’re not having fun then just leave” Paris Hilton
NAME: Seth Ellsworth
YEAR: Freshman MAJOR: Biology HOMETOWN: Dandridge, TN FAVORITE EVENTS: DI, POI Seth is ecstatic to start his first year competing with the Mason Forensics team! Coming from the small town Dandridge, Tennessee, Seth can’t wait to see a change of pace and a lack of tractors on the road. When he isn’t working on forensics, Seth likes making fun of himself, drawing Britney Spears, being boo boo the fool, and participating in Aries culture. Seth is overjoyed to start his first year with the Mason Family! 
"Show them greatness"- Paul Wexler
NAME: Sarah Sylvan
YEAR: Freshman MAJOR: Undecided HOMETOWN: Needham, MA FAVORITE EVENTS: CA, PRO Sarah is thrilled to begin her freshman year on the GMU Forensics Team. When she isn’t doing speech you can find Sarah at the on-campus Panera Bread, watching Netflix when she should be studying or video chatting her puppy back home. Sarah cannot wait to be a part of the teams 48th season! 
“You cant complain that your plate is full, if your goal was to eat”
Name: Sydney Alexandria Hardy
Year: Freshman Major: Economics Hometown: Chesapeake, VA Favorite Events: POE, PRO, ADS Sydney-Alexandria is excited to be part of this team and looking forward to expressing her self through spoken word. When she isn’t gearing up for a competition, Sydney-Alexandria is studying or doing homework. “Academics first, everything else second”. She also enjoys writing in her spare time and reading any educational novel she can get her hands on. #ILOVEGMUFORENSICS |