Forensic Falcons are 2024 Illinois State Champions

SIC’s Forensic Falcons were named overall state champions in the 2-year college division at the Illinois Intercollegiate Forensic Association on March 2. The team also earned first place in the team individual events category.

Local students Bradlee Thomas, Rachel Russell, Abby Zirkelbach, Braxtyn Baugher, and Neva Wasson earned state championships at the event. Braxtyn Baugher, Bradlee Thomas, Grant Dooley, Rachel Russell, Abby Zirkelbach, and Carter Wiseman 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 on Wednesday, March 27 at 7:00 p.m. in the George T. Dennis Visual and Performing Arts Center Theatre 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 Reno, Nevada.

Individual results from the tournament are as follows. The team is coached by Jenny Billman, Paul Cummins, and Rachel Parish.

Braxtyn Baugher (Harrisburg): State champion in 2-year duo (with partner Abby Zirkelbach), 3rd in open speech to entertain, 4th in 2-year individual sweepstakes. 4th in open prose interpretation, 5th in open program oral interpretation.

Bradlee Thomas (Harrisburg): State champion in open speech to entertain, 5th in open duo interpretation (with partner Abby Zirkelbach).

Neva Wasson (Harrisburg): State champion in 2-year dramatic interpretation, state champion in 2-year prose interpretation, 3rd in 2-year duo interpretation (with partner Grant Dooley), 6th in 2-year speech to entertain.

Abby Zirkelbach (Marion): State champion in 2-year duo interpretation (with partner Braxtyn Baugher), 5th in open informative speaking, 5th in open duo interpretation (with partner Bradlee Thomas).

Rachel Russell (Norris City): State champion in 2-year informative speaking, 4th in open dramatic interpretation, top novice non-advancing in duo interpretation (with partner Brock Newman).

Grant Dooley (Harrisburg): 2nd in open communication analysis, 3rd in 2-year duo interpretation (with partner Neva Wasson), 5th in 2-year impromptu speaking.

Carter Wiseman (Galatia): 4th in 2-year extemporaneous speaking, 5th in open impromptu speaking, 6th in 2-year oratory.

Connor Fauset (Benton): 3rd in 2-year communication analysis, 4th in 2-year prose interpretation, 5th in 2-year dramatic interpretation.

Brock Newman (Eldorado): 2nd in 2-year oratory, 3rd in 2-year informative speaking, top novice non-advancing in 2-yeard duo interpretation (with partner Rachel Russell).

Ethan Bordoy (Harrisburg): 2nd in 2-year communication analysis, 5th in 2-year oratory.