Month: October 2018

In individual events during the Missouri Mule, Oct. 20, junior Austin Sopko was named tournament champion in afterdinner speaking. He also placed third in impromptu speaking and seventh in communication analysis. First-year Korrin Comley also picked up a tournament championship in informative speaking, which made her the top novice in the event. First-year Will Henrickson advanced to finals of dramatic interpretation and placed fifth. He was also named top novice in extemporaneous speaking. Junior Rebecca Walker advanced to afterdinner finals with Sopko and placed fifth.

During the Dale Carnegie, Oct. 21, Sopko once again advanced to finals in all three of his events. He would end up placing third in communication analysis, fourth in afterdinner speaking and sixth in impromptu speaking. Comley also advanced again in informative speaking, placing second and once again earning top novice. Henrickson reached finals in extemporaneous speaking and placed third, once again earning top novice in the event. Sophomore Maguire Radosevic also reached finals in extemporaneous, placing fifth. Finally, Walker also returned to afterdinner finals and placed fifth.

In Lincoln-Douglas (LD) debate, senior Johnathan Christy earned a tournament championship during the Missouri Mule by advancing through four elimination rounds and then defeating his finals opponent on a 3-0 judge’s decision. Christy was also named sixth speaker in varsity LD debate. Senior Tyler Behymer and sophomore Peyton Gilbert also had good tournaments, with Behymer finishing as a semifinalist and Gilbert as an octofinalist. Additionally, sophomore Eric Martin picked up a winning record in the junior varsity division of LD debate but fell just short of advancing to the final. Martin was named sixth speaker in the division and first year Michael Garrett was named fourth speaker. On Sunday, Christy once again advanced to elimination rounds, this time finishing as a quarterfinalist. He also completed his tournament as a third speaker in varsity LD.

After a very successful weekend at the University of Central Missouri, Truman Forensics picked up seven national qualifications for the NFA Championship Tournament, including Comley in informative, Henrickson in drama and extemporaneous speaking, Martin in LD debate, Radosevic in extemporaneous speaking, Sopko in communication analysis, and Walker in afterdinner Speaking. After only three tournament weekends, the team already has earned 20 qualifications to nationals.

Truman Forensics will return to competition with the Fall Redbird LD Swing, hosted by Illinois State University Nov.17-18.

For more information on how to get involved, visit forensics.truman.edu or contact Christopher Outzen, director of forensics, or Craig Hennigan, assistant director of forensics.

-Courtesy: Truman Today

The Truman Forensic Union opened their competitive season with two successful tournaments in Bowling Green, Ky., and Bolivar, Mo., earning two sweepstakes awards and 13 national qualifications.

Forensics traveled to Bowling Green for tournaments hosted by Western Kentucky University, Sept. 21. At the season-opening Alexis Elliot Memorial Round Robin, senior Johnathan Christy advanced to the final round of Lincoln-Douglas debate (LD) in a highly selective field consisting of the most competitive students in the country. Christy finished the tournament in second place and was named the best speaker of the tournament. Fellow senior Tyler Behymer was also selected for the tournament and finished in fourth place.

The team also competed in full at the Western Kentucky Fall Fiesta, Sept. 22. Christy made elimination rounds of LD and finished the tournament as an octofinalist. He was named the second-best speaker at the tournament. Sophomore Maguire Radosevic also advanced and finished as an octofinalist. Fellow sophomores Peyton Gilbert and Cami Smith advanced to quarterfinals. Smith was also named the second-best speaker at the tournament.

Truman Forensics later traveled to Bolivar for the annual Bob R. Derryberry Memorial tournament, hosted by Southwest Baptist University. Behymer advanced to the final round and won the tournament in debate. First-years Macy Cecil and Jackson Elder each advanced to elimination rounds of the novice LD division. Cecil finished as an octofinalist while Elder finished as a quarterfinalist.

In individual events at the Derryberry Memorial, junior Austin Sopko finished the tournament with fifth place in impromptu speaking and third place in afterdinner speaking. Sophomore Audrey Baker had similar successes in her two events, placing fourth in afterdinner speaking and second in dramatic interpretation. Junior Caleb Daniels advanced as a finalist in extemporaneous speaking, placing sixth. First-year Malena Gansmann reached finals of program oral interpretation and placed sixth as well.

In addition to individual student successes, Truman Forensics earned third place in debate sweepstakes and third in overall sweepstakes for the 2018 Derryberry Memorial. The team will travel to Warrensburg, Mo., to compete in the annual Missouri Mule and Dale Carnegie Swing tournament.

Inquiries about Truman Forensics can be sent to Chris Outzen, director of forensics, or Craig Hennigan, assistant director of forensics.

-Courtesy: Truman Today