Forensics Performs Well at National Championship

In preparation for the national tournament, members of the speech team first competed virtually at the Asynchronous Championship Tournament hosted by Outspoken Culture, March 23-27. The team then advanced to nationals where 62 schools competed across the nation with more than 1,200 entries. Truman forensics had greater sweepstakes and individual placings in nationals than they have had in previous years.

Placements from the National Forensics Association Championship Tournament include:
Debate:
•    Senior Macy Cecil was an octofinalist, top 16, in Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
•    Sophomore Alicia Stout was awarded fourth speaker in the nation and was an octofinalist, top 16, in Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
•    Sophomore Elijah Baum was a double octofinalist, top 32, in Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
•    Freshman Caroline Spiller was awarded 10th speaker in the nation and was a double octofinalist, top 32, in Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
 
Speech:
•    Senior Jackson Elder was a semifinalist, top 12, in extemporaneous speaking, quarterfinalist, top 24, in after dinner speaking and octofinalist, top 48, in impromptu speaking.
•    Senior Kayla Gerlt was an octofinalist, top 48, in after dinner speaking, prose interpretation and duo interpretation.
•    Sophomore Ella Schnake was a quarterfinalist, top 24, in dramatic interpretation and impromptu speaking. She was an octofinalist, top 48, in prose interpretation, program oral interpretation and duo interpretation.  
 
Junior Maya Krump, sophomores Megan Ford, Larissa Wratney and Jillian Humke, as well as freshmen Eli Bartz and Megan Trent were also in attendance at nationals.
 
Team Awards:
•    Sixth place in Open Lincoln-Douglas Debate Sweepstakes.
•    Sixth place in Individual Events Sweepstakes: President’s Division 2.
 
Placements from the Asynchronous Championship Tournament include:
•    Senior Jackson Elder took second place in extemporaneous speaking and was a quarterfinalist, top 24, in persuasion.
•    Senior Kayla Gerlt took third place in after dinner speaking and was a quarterfinalist, top 24, in prose interpretation and dramatic interpretation.
•    Junior Maya Krump was a quarterfinalist, top 24, in persuasion.
•    Sophomore Ella Schnake was a semifinalist, top 12, in prose interpretation and dramatic interpretation, as well as an impromptu speaking quarterfinalist, top 24.
•    Sophomore Jillian Humke was a quarterfinalist, top 24, in after dinner speaking.
 
Also in attendance were sophomores Megan Ford and Larissa Wratney.
 
Team Awards:
•    Second overall sweepstakes in Lake Division
•    Sixth overall sweepstakes in Open Ocean Division
 
Any students interested in joining the Forensics Union should contact Craig Hennigan at chennigan@truman.edu or Ben Davis at bdavis@truman.edu.