SIC’s Forensic Falcons Are 2019 Regional Champs
Southeastern Illinois College Forensic Falcons bested competitors from across the region on March 22-23 to win the Phi Rho Pi Regional Four Championship Speech Tournament in Chicago Heights, Illinois.
The team captured a gold medal in overall competition after earning both a gold medal in individual events and a silver medal in debate. The team also produced several of the top individual competitors at the tournament, with sophomore Cheriaca Huntley (Carrier Mills) earning gold in individual sweepstakes, sophomore Braden Cummins (Carrier Mills) and freshman Kenzee Dycus (Mount Vernon) taking silver, and sophomore Angelica Harrelson (Eldorado) earning bronze. Notably, every member of the regional team advanced to elimination rounds.
“The regional tournament gives us one final opportunity to test our material before the national tournament,” noted Director of Forensics Paul Cummins.
Coaches Dr. Tyler Billman and Jenny Billman agreed.
“It’s an important part of our schedule. We’re proud of the way the students prepared for regionals,” said Jenny Billman.
The regional tournament served as the Falcons’ last competition before their upcoming public showcase, Night Before Nationals, on April 4 at 7 p.m. Community members are invited to the George T. Dennis Visual & Performing Arts Center on SIC’s campus for an evening of speech performances. Tickets are a $5 suggested donation for students and community members. Proceeds from the event support the team as it travels to the Phi Rho Pi National Tournament in Reno, Nevada, April 8-13.
Individual results from the tournament are as follows.
Cheriaca Huntley (Carrier Mills): Gold in Program Oral Interpretation, Gold in Duo Interpretation, Silver in Poetry Interpretation, Silver in Speech to Entertain
Braden Cummins (Carrier Mills): Gold in Poetry Interpretation, Gold in Duo Interpretation, Silver in Program Oral Interpretation, Bronze in Communication Analysis
Kenzee Dycus (Mount Vernon): Gold in Poetry Interpretation, Silver in Informative Speaking, Silver in Persuasive Speaking, Silver in Communication Analysis
Angelica Harrelson (Eldorado): Gold in Prose Interpretation, Silver in Duo Interpretation, Silver in Communication Analysis, Bronze in Dramatic Interpretation
Jacob Rice (Marion): Gold in Extemporaneous Speaking, Silver in Impromptu Speaking, Bronze in Informative Speaking, Bronze in IPDA (Debate)
Donovyn Valdez (Carrier Mills): Gold in Impromptu Speaking, Silver in Prose Interpretation, Silver in Informative Speaking
Bradley Hydrick (Carmi): Gold in Extemporaneous Speaking, Silver in Impromptu Speaking, Silver in IPDA (Debate)
Tiffany Turner (Galatia): Gold in Dramatic Interpretation, Silver in Persuasive Speaking, Silver in Poetry Interpretation
Billy Lewis (Carrier Mills): Silver in Dramatic Interpretation, Bronze in Duo Interpretation, Bronze in Speech to Entertain, Bronze in Prose Interpretation
Jasmine Teston (Harrisburg): Silver in Prose Interpretation, Bronze in Duo Interpretation, Bronze in Communication Analysis, Bronze in Dramatic Interpretation
Tucker Murphy (Golconda): Silver in Duo Interpretation, Bronze in Poetry Interpretation, Bronze in Dramatic Interpretation
Paige Clore (Norris City): Silver in Dramatic Interpretation, Bronze in Communication Analysis
Emma Bradley (Eldorado): Silver in Prose Interpretation, Bronze in Communication Analysis
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 1970’s and has placed in the top five community colleges nationwide more than 25 times, with hundreds of individual championships. The team earned its first national title in forensics in 1986, with additional titles following in 1997 and 2005. For more information, visit www.sic.edu/ForensicFalcons.
###