College of Arts & Sciences

The Villiger Speech and Debate Society

Team

Members:


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Raya Abat ‘13
Raya is a Sophomore English major and communications minor from New York City. This is her second year in forensics, competing in Interpretation events and Improptu Speaking. She enjoys food, probably too much, especially Chinese cuisine!


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Salvatore Coraseti ‘14 
Sal is a Freshman International Relations major from Baltimore, Maryland. He is looking forward to continuing his forensics career at Saint Joseph’s this year, and being a part of the Villiger Legacy.

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Joseph Dineen ‘11 (President)

Joe is a senior from Stamford, Connecticut, majoring in International Relations with minors in History and Asian Studies. Discovered in 2003 by an extremely patient high school speech coach, this will be Joe’s eighth year in forensics. He has competed in almost every event offered in college (his personal favorite is DI, go figure), and he looks forward to one last great year. Joe is also a cinephile, a theatergoer, a Futurama connoisseur, a Sagittarius, Batman, a calligrapher, an Islanders fan, and keeper of the extemp bins.

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Margaret Durkin ‘14

Margaret is a freshman and currently an undeclared social science major. This is her 5th year in Forensics.  She plans to compete in Informative, Persuasion, Duo, Communication Analysis, Prose, Poetry, and welcomes any new events. She also enjoys reading TIME magazine,  (or anything, for that matter) and going to Goo Goo Dolls concerts. She is extremely excited to be a part of the Villiger team!
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Matthew Emery ‘12

Matt is a Junior from Lighthouse Point, Florida. He is double majoring in Economics and Mathematics. This year he plans to compete in all genres of speech, including Limited Prep, Interp, and Public Address. His hobbies include playing poker, ultimate Frisbee, yoga, Starcraft II, and watching Nip/Tuck. 
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Laur Fiatoa ‘14

Hailing from Levittown, Pennsylvania, Laur is an English major with a minor in communications and if all goes to plan, a major in Marketing. She will be competing in Extemporaneous Speaking, Impromptu Speaking, Persuasive Speaking, Informative Speaking, Duo Interpretation, Dramatic Interpretation, Prose, and After Dinner Speaking at the colligate level.  In her ample amount of free time, she enjoys scaring people on Chatroulette with her veritable assortment of Halloween masks and shopping for things she does not need.
Dennis Feldman ‘12 (Vice President/Tournament Co-Director) Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Dennis is a junior majoring in Political Science with a minor in Fine Arts. This is his 7th year competing in Forensics, he competes in Duo Interpretation, Prose Interpretation, Poetry Interpretation, Dramatic Interpretation, Extemporaneous Speaking, Impromptu, After Dinner Speaking, and Informative Speaking. He enjoys watching the Green Bay Packers, listening to Bob Dylan, and reading the works of Cormac McCarthy. He hates most self-proclaimed hipsters.
Dennis Feldman ‘12  (Vice President/Tournament Co-Director)

Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Dennis is a junior majoring in Political Science with a minor in Fine Arts. This is his 7th year competing in Forensics, he competes in Duo Interpretation, Prose Interpretation, Poetry Interpretation, Dramatic Interpretation, Extemporaneous Speaking, Impromptu, After Dinner Speaking, and Informative Speaking. He enjoys watching the Green Bay Packers, listening to Bob Dylan, and reading the works of Cormac McCarthy. He hates most self-proclaimed hipsters.
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Michael Gabrieli ‘14

Mike (aka "Gabs" or "Gabadabs") is a freshman Finance Major. This is his 5th year in forensics, competing in mainly Extemp, Impromtu and other awesome speech events. In his spare time, he loves soccer, ice hockey, baseball, movies, TV shows, reading, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and having fun. He is very much looking forward to being with the Villiger Speech and Debate Team this upcoming year!
Katherine Hardy
Katherine Hardy ‘12 (Publicist/ Assistant Treasurer)

Born and raised in Queens, New York, Katherine is a Junior Economics major with a minor in Finance. She will compete this year in Extemporaneous Speaking, Impromptu, Informative, Persuasive, Poetry, and other events.  She is especially fond of feeding seagulls during winter, wandering aimlessly, watching Mad Men, and re-runs of Rhoda.  
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Kelsey Hockenberger ‘12 (Secretary/ Tournament Co-Director)

Kelsey is a junior biology major with a business minor (due to a lapse in judgment on her part).  This is her third year in the forensics community and competes in all genres.  When she isn't reading poetry or the headlines of PopSci, she enjoys riding her horse Amethyst, playing Mariokart, and listening to music. 
Erica Kane ‘11 (Treasurer)

Erica Elizabeth Kane is a rising senior Sociology major and health care ethics and faith-justice minor at Saint Joseph's University. As a member of the honors program, Erica is pursuing a departmental honors independent study project this year, following a summer internship with the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
In her free time, Erica enjoys playing the violin, shopping and studying for the LSAT. Erica is applying to law school this fall and will pursue a legal career upon graduation.

She is actually the one who framed Roger Rabbit.

 

Coaches

Robb Del Casale ‘85 (Moderator)
Robb has been at Saint Joseph’s University for over 25 years, 4 competing and the rest coaching. He was in several national interpretation outrounds and has coached numerous students to national final rounds and championships. He has built the Villiger Debating Society into a national contender year in and year out and established a legacy that puts learning and students' needs first.

Joe O’Brien ’01 (Competition Moderator/Interp and Delivery Coach)
Joe has been a part of Villiger for over a decade. As a competitor, Joe was a multiple outrounder and finalist, including the 2001 NFA Prose National Champion. His students have reached the same level of success. He manages the team’s competitive strategy, coaches Interp, and works with speech delivery. He is also a talent agent in NYC.

Eileen Monaghan ’02 (PA coach and Tournament liaison)
Eileen is one of the most competitively successful team members in Villiger history. She was a national finalist at NFA and AFA nationals in multiple events, culminating with a 4th place finish in Individual Sweepstakes at the 2002 NFA tournament. Her students in Persuasion, Informative, and Communication Analysis have reached deep outrounds at nationals, as well. She is also an advisor for the tournament. Eileen is a lawyer at the prestigious White and Williams law firm.

Leo Mullin ’82 (Limited Prep coach)
Leo has competed and coached at Saint Joseph’s University for years. Along with Steve Conaway, Leo has coached students to over 30 outrounds in Impromptu and Extemporaneous Speaking, more than 10 national finals, and multiple national championships…just in the past ten years. He now works for the EPA.

Steve Conaway ’84 (Limited Prep coach)
See “Leo” above. Steve is also an esteemed lawyer in the Philadelphia area.

Patty Byrnes ’99 (PA coach and Tournament advisor)
Patty has been an integral part of Villiger for 15 years as a competitor, coach, and administrator. She mainly coaches After Dinner Speaking and Persuasion. She also coaches Extemp and Impromptu. Her students have made numerous outrounds in these respective events. She also helps to organize and advise the team for The Villiger Tournament. Patty is now a successful lobbyist in Philadelphia.

Additional Coaches: Mike Malloy, Danielle Rogowski-Malloy, Dave Tuason, Ken Latzko, Tony Figliola, Ryan McKenna, Jenn Welby, John Geibel.