SIC Forensic Falcons are 2020 Illinois State Champions

Southeastern Illinois College’s Forensic Falcons were named overall state champions in the community college division at the Illinois Intercollegiate Forensic Association March 1, earning both first place in the team individual events category and third in the team debate category.

The Falcons also earned the George Armstrong traveling perpetual sweepstakes award for cumulative success over time. SIC is only the second community college to ever receive this prestigious award, which began in 1993.

Local students Tucker Murphy, Billy Lewis, Bradley Frailey, Kenzee Dycus, Jacob Rice, Addie Mays, Tiffany Turner, Kale Rister, Nick Triplett, and William Pugsley earned state championships at the event, which was hosted by Illinois Central College in Peoria, Illinois.

Tucker Murphy, Bradley Frailey, Jacob Rice, Billy Lewis, and Jasmine Teston also received open finals awards, which means they placed among the top 6 overall competitors from any college or university in the state.

“Our team has invested literally hundreds of hours in their events and in their teammates’ events,” noted Director of Forensics Jenny Billman. “To perform well in a deeply talented state means a lot to us.”

In one of the last events of the season, the team will hold a public performance Thursday, April 2, at 7 p.m. in the George T. Dennis Visual and Performing Arts Center on SIC’s Harrisburg campus. Tickets are a minimum donation of $5 and will support the team traveling to the Phi Rho Pi National Tournament in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Tickets can be purchased directly from team members or at the door.

Individual results from the tournament are as follows. Awards are in the two-year division unless otherwise noted. The team is coached by Jenny Billman, Dr. Tyler Billman, and Paul Cummins.

Tucker Murphy, Golconda — State champion in OPEN duo interpretation (with partner Bradley Frailey), state champion in communication analysis, 2^nd individual sweepstakes, 2^nd speech to entertain, 3^rd program oral interpretation

Billy Lewis, Carrier Mills — State champion in duo interpretation (with partner Kale Rister), state champion in poetry interpretation, state champion in dramatic interpretation, 3^rd individual sweepstakes, 4^th OPEN prose finals

Bradley Frailey, Harrisburg — State champion in OPEN duo interpretation (with partner Tucker Murphy), 2^nd program oral interpretation, 3^rd poetry interpretation, 4^th individual sweepstakes, 5^th speech to entertain

Kenzee Dycus, Mount Vernon — State champion in oratory, 2^nd informative speaking, 4^th OPEN speech to entertain, 4^th communication analysis, 5^th individual sweepstakes

Jacob Rice, Marion — State champion in parliamentary debate (with partner William Pugsley), semifinialist IPDA debate, 2^nd extemporaneous speaking, 3^rd speaker IPDA debate, 5^th place OPEN extemporaneous speaking

Addie Mays, Mount Vernon — State champion in informative speaking, 2^nd communication analysis, 3^rd oratory

Tiffany Turner, Galatia — State champion in program oral interpretation, 2^nd poetry interpretation, 5^th prose interpretation

Kale Rister, Carrier Mills — State champion in duo interpretation (with partner Billy Lewis), 5^th poetry interpretation

Nick Triplett, Galatia — State champion in extemporaneous speaking, state champion in IPDA speaker awards, semifinialist in IPDA debate, 34d in impromptu speaking

William Pugsley, Carmi — State champion in parliamentary debate (with partner Jacob Rice)

Jasmine Teston, Harrisburg — 3^rd communication analysis, 3^rd prose interpretation, 4^th dramatic interpretation, 6^th OPEN oratory

Collin Sexton, Norris City — 3^rd extemporaneous speaking, 4^th informative speaking

Alex Peebels, Carrier Mills — 4^th speech to entertain, top novice in informative speaking

Shainna Ralston, Eldorado — 4^th oratory

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