Truman Forensics Starts Spring with Success

 
Truman’s forensic union (speech and debate team) started the new year on the right foot with successful weekends at two regional tournaments.

The team traveled to the Iowa Swing, hosted by the University of Northern Iowa and Simpson College, Jan. 21-22, and to the Gorlock Gala, hosted by Webster University, Jan. 27-29.
 
At the Iowa Swing, Truman was one of 17 schools competing. Three students represented Truman forensics in 10 different speech events. Freshman Austin Sopko was named the top novice in impromptu speaking that weekend.
 
Forty-three different schools attended the Gorlock Gala, one of the largest tournaments of the year. Sopko also represented the team at the Gorlock Gala, where he received an excellence award for scoring in the top 30 percent of afterdinner speaking competitors. This also ranked Sopko high enough to receive the top novice award in the event. In other speech events, sophomore Johnathan Christy was a semifinalist in extemporaneous speaking.
 
In debate events at the Gorlock Gala, Christy advanced to the octofinal round of Lincoln-Douglas debate in the varsity division. He was always named the 13th best speaker in the same division. Freshman Luke Frogge also had a successful debate weekend, scoring sixth best speaker in the junior varsity division of Lincoln-Douglas debate and making it to the final round, where he placed second.
 
Truman forensics will attend the MAFA Championship Tournament, hosted by the University of Central Missouri, Feb. 16-18.

Participation in the forensics program is open to any Truman student in good standing, regardless of prior speech and debate experience. For more information on how to get involved, visit forensics.truman.edu or contact Christopher Outzen, director of forensics, or Craig Hennigan, assistant director of forensics.