SIC’s Forensic Falcons Showcase Strong at State

SIC’s Forensic Falcons traveled to Dekalb, Illinois, for the State Forensics Competition. This event hosts both two-year colleges and four-year universities showcasing events across more than a dozen categories. With a squad of only six competitors, SIC placed first in Individual Events for the two-year division and 4th in the four-year division for Individual Events.

“State was such a wonderful experience,” says freshman competitor, Connor Fauset. “I was able to see so many people express themselves in such a supportive environment. I’m glad to be part of such an amazing community and help add to it.” Fauset was named champion in Dramatic Interpretation and Top Novice (top-ranked freshman) in the event.

Forensic Falcons Coach Rachel Parish was proud of the talent that southern Illinois brought to the state competition. “SIC’s Forensic program proves we have some of the most talented speakers in the state. This team conquered through their hard work, determination, and commitment to excellence.”

Each competition builds to the 2023 Phi Rho Pi National Tournament in Bethesda, Maryland.  SIC’s Forensic Falcons team is coached by Jenny Billman, Paul Cummins, and Rachel Parish.

Individual results from the tournament are as follows.

Trey Murphy of Benton: two-year tournament champion in Informative Speaking, two-year tournament champion in Program Oral Interpretation, fourth place in Open (university division) Prose Interpretation, fifth place in Poetry; first place Overall Speaker.

Omari Jackson of Mt. Vernon: two-year tournament champion in Poetry, third place in Persuasion, second place in Open Prose (university division); second place Overall Speaker.

Jenkin Naas of Harrisburg: fifth place in Communication Analysis, sixth place in Speech to Entertain.

Neva Wasson of Harrisburg: Tournament Champion and Top Novice in two-year Duo Interpretation (with partner Connor Fauset), fifth place in Open (university division) and Top Novice Speech to Entertain, fourth place in Poetry, fourth place in Dramatic Interpretation; third place Overall Speaker.

Connor Fauset of Benton: two-year tournament champion and Top Novice in Duo Interpretation (with partner Neva Wasson), two-year tournament champion and Top Novice in Dramatic Interpretation.

The Southeastern Illinois College speech team began in 1970 under coaches Gary Allan and the late George Dennis. The team hit the top 10 nationally in the late 1970s and has placed in the top five community colleges nationwide nearly 40 times, with hundreds of individual championships. The team earned its first national title in forensics in 1986, with additional titles following in 1997, 2005, and 2021. For more information, visit www.sic.edu/ForensicFalcons or join them on social media: www.facebook.com/ForensicFalcons.