Forensic Union Wins Washburn Meet

Truman’s Forensic Union dominated the competition at the first Washburn Capital Classic invitational tournament Feb. 5-6, in Topeka, Kan. The team took first in overall sweepstakes, placed six competitors in speech elimination rounds and composed half the field in parliamentary debate elimination rounds.

Truman out-performed representatives from the University of Nebraska (Lincoln and Omaha campuses), Drury University (Springfield), CMSU (Warrensburg), Northwest Missouri State (Maryville) and Nebraska Wesleyan (Lincoln).

In individual events, freshman communication major Heather Timmerman from Hillsboro, Mo., won the tournament championship in program oral interpretation while freshman political science and economics double major Matthew Snyder from Neosho, Mo., placed second in both impromptu speaking and extemporaneous speaking. Ryan Walsh, senior philosophy and religion and communication double major from Cassville, Mo., also placed second in after dinner speaking, and Elizabeth Hobbs, junior biology major from Newton, Kan., earned fourth place for extemporaneous and informative speaking.

In parliamentary debate, freshman chemistry major Dylan Rothermel from Homewood, Ill., and junior biology major Meghana Kunkala from Hattiesburg, Miss., reached the final round.

Seven Truman students were ranked among the top 10 speakers at the tournament with Hobbs finishing first.

The Forensic Union next travels to the Missouri State Championships in Columbia, Mo.