SIC Forensic Falcons Win 2021 Season Opener

The Southeastern Illinois College Forensic Falcons won their season-opening speech tournament Nov. 13, earning first place in individual events and first in team sweepstakes at the Highland Cougar Classic, hosted by Highland Community College. The tournament included 19 colleges and universities from across the country, including teams from as far away as Texas, Florida, and California.

This year’s Cougar Classic was held entirely online. Team members hope to return to face-to-face competition later this year.

The tournament marks the team’s first since winning the 2021 Phi Rho Pi National Tournament in April. Most members from the National Champion team graduated in May, and the Falcons have just one returner: Haley Rice, a sophomore from Stonefort. Still, the young squad was well-prepared for competition, as Rice explains: “We gave it our all for the first win of the season. I’m excited to see what the rest of the season holds with such strong competitors.”

Director of Forensics Jenny Billman agrees. “Our team has shown that they are hardworking and adaptable in any format. I’m proud of their hard work this weekend.”

Each tournament serves as preparation for the 2022 Phi Rho Pi National Tournament, which the Falcons will host. The team is coached by Jenny Billman, John Corum, and Paul Cummins.

Individual results from the tournament are as follows.

Haley Rice (Stonefort) – 1^st in informative, 3^rd in communication analysis, 5^th in persuasion

D’Tre’Veouz Graham (Marion) – 1^st in dramatic interpretation (DI), top novice DI, 1^st in duo (with partner Trey Murphy), top novice in duo

Landon Gates (Harrisburg) – 1^st in novice IPDA speaker awards, 2^nd in informative, top novice in informative, 5^th in impromptu, top novice in impromptu

Trey Murphy (Benton) — 1^st in Duo (with partner D’Tre’Veouz Graham), top novice in duo

Isaiah Francis (Marion) – 2^nd IPDA speaker awards (novice), 2^nd IPDA (novice), 3^rd in speech to entertain

Kellen Colson (Marion) – 4^th in dramatic interpretation, 4^th duo interpretation (with partner Ian Meshew), 4^th in persuasion

Ian Meshew (Harrisburg) – 4^th duo interpretation (with partner Kellen Colson)

Other team members include Omari Jackson (Mt. Vernon), Jenkin Naas (Harrisburg), and Noah Devous (Harrisburg).

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