Forensic Falcons Earn National Recognition in California
The Southeastern Illinois College Forensic Falcons capped a strong competitive season with a top-five finish at the Phi Rho Pi national tournament in Woodland Hills, California, April 17-20. The team finished fifth in individual events in the tournament’s largest division, the Wyman division. More than 60 schools were represented at the tournament.
“The team worked very hard this season,” notes coach Tyler Billman. “Few people know the level of commitment and hard work that forensics requires.”
“I am so proud of the team,” explains sophomore Austin Winters. “We really are a family.”
Individual results from the tournament are as follows:
Corrine McDaniel, a freshman from Harrisburg: gold in persuasive speaking, gold in informative speaking, bronze in communication analysis.
Zachary Hanks, a freshman from Harrisburg: gold in poetry interpretation, bronze in program oral interpretation.
Bethany Oxford, a sophomore from Norris City: silver in duo interpretation (with Austin Winters), bronze in prose interpretation.
Austin Winters, a sophomore from Norris City: silver in duo interpretation (with Bethany Oxford).
Nick Volkening, a sophomore from Galatia: silver in informative speaking.
Nick Mott, a sophomore from Simpson: bronze in impromptu speaking.
Tre’ Ingram, a freshman from Harrisburg: bronze in dramatic interpretation.
Other competing members of the forensic falcon squad include Nicole York, a freshman from Omaha; Hannah Rodgers, a freshman from Harrisburg; Jeremiah Brown, a freshman from Harrisburg; and Benjamin McGuire, a freshman from Raleigh.
The team, which won the Illinois Intercollegiate Forensics Association (IIFA) State Championship in Dekalb earlier this year, is coached by Paul Cummins, Tyler Billman, and Jenny Billman.
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