The 2019 Lone Star Swing

Dear Colleagues:

Lone Star College-North Harris and Lone Star College-University Park invite you to the Lone Star Swing, November 8-10, 2019. The swing is open to all intercollegiate competitors. Both halves of the swing will be held on the North Harris Campus.  The tournament will offer NPDA, IPDA, NFA-LD in addition to all 11 AFA-NIET individual events.  Dinner will be provided on Friday evening. 

On Friday, 6 rounds of NPDA debate will be offered with quarters (or semis) on Friday as well.  Semis (or finals) will be held on Saturday. There will be only one division offered.  We will follow all NPDA rules and procedures.  WiFi internet access should be available in the building’s common areas.  Additionally, 4 rounds of IPDA and NFA-LD will be offered on Saturday.  Competitors in IPDA or NFA-LD will not be able to cross enter for the first portion of the swing.  We will follow all Phi Rho Pi IPDA and NFA-LD rules and procedures.  The tournament is unable to supply prep rooms for IPDA.

Saturday and Sunday will each be a self-contained IE tournament, with all 11 AFA-NIET Individual Events.  There will be only one division offered.  We will follow all AFA rules.  No prepared event may have been used in competition prior to this academic year.

ENTRIES: Entries will be registered through speechwire.com.  Fees will be calculated at 12:00pm on Tuesday November 5th.  Adds or drops after 5:00pm on Wednesday November 6th are subject to regular fees as assessed on the 15^th plus a nuisance fee. There is no limit on the number of students a school may enter per event. Students may enter no more than three events per pattern. Students entered in multiple events are responsible for notifying their judges, and judges will not wait past the scheduled times for students who are cross entered.

JUDGES: One judge can cover four (4) individual events slots per pattern for a total of 8 slots across the two patterns. Each debate judge covers two (2) debate teams.  A very limited number of hired judges will be available for uncovered slots/teams.

FEES: Debate entry fees for the tournament are $50 entry.  Debate judging fees are $75.00 per uncovered team.  One judge covers two debate entries.  IE entry fees for the tournament are $10.00 per slot per half. Each judge, as previously mentioned, covers four (4) individual event slots per pattern. Hired judges are an additional $15.00 per uncovered slot. Schools which drop judges after Wednesday November 6th at 5:00 PM will incur a $100.00 nuisance fee plus all fees for uncovered slots/teams.  Cash is the vastly preferred for payment of fees.  If you must pay by check, please make checks for both halves of the tournament payable to Wade Hescht.  

LODGING: We will be using the Springhill Suites by Marriott located very conveniently to the campus at 15555 North Freeway, Houston, TX 77090 as our tournament hotel.  They have guaranteed us a very reasonable rate of $89.00 per night plus tax.  Please use the following link to make reservations:  

https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1570031506120&key=GRP&app=resvlink

 They will hold the block until October 28^th.  Please bring your tax exemption form if you do not wish to pay state tax. 

We look forward to seeing you here in Houston in November!

Respectfully,

Wade Hescht
Director of Forensics
Lone Star College-North Harris

Dave Gaer

AFA-NIET Tournament Director

Lone Star College-University Park