Truman Forensics Brings Home Tournament Championships
Truman’s forensic union brought home four tournament championships, among multiple other awards, at the annual Missouri Mule/Dale Carnegie Swing hosted by the University of Central Missouri, Oct. 20-21.
The team took third in individual events at both the Mule and the Carnegie tournament, were tournament champions in overall sweepstakes for the Carnegie and placed third in combined individual events sweepstakes across both tournaments.
In individual events during the Missouri Mule, Oct. 20, junior Austin Sopko was named tournament champion in afterdinner speaking. He also placed third in impromptu speaking and seventh in communication analysis. First-year Korrin Comley also picked up a tournament championship in informative speaking, which made her the top novice in the event. First-year Will Henrickson advanced to finals of dramatic interpretation and placed fifth. He was also named top novice in extemporaneous speaking. Junior Rebecca Walker advanced to afterdinner finals with Sopko and placed fifth.
During the Dale Carnegie, Oct. 21, Sopko once again advanced to finals in all three of his events. He would end up placing third in communication analysis, fourth in afterdinner speaking and sixth in impromptu speaking. Comley also advanced again in informative speaking, placing second and once again earning top novice. Henrickson reached finals in extemporaneous speaking and placed third, once again earning top novice in the event. Sophomore Maguire Radosevic also reached finals in extemporaneous, placing fifth. Finally, Walker also returned to afterdinner finals and placed fifth.
In Lincoln-Douglas (LD) debate, senior Johnathan Christy earned a tournament championship during the Missouri Mule by advancing through four elimination rounds and then defeating his finals opponent on a 3-0 judge’s decision. Christy was also named sixth speaker in varsity LD debate. Senior Tyler Behymer and sophomore Peyton Gilbert also had good tournaments, with Behymer finishing as a semifinalist and Gilbert as an octofinalist. Additionally, sophomore Eric Martin picked up a winning record in the junior varsity division of LD debate but fell just short of advancing to the final. Martin was named sixth speaker in the division and first year Michael Garrett was named fourth speaker. On Sunday, Christy once again advanced to elimination rounds, this time finishing as a quarterfinalist. He also completed his tournament as a third speaker in varsity LD.
After a very successful weekend at the University of Central Missouri, Truman Forensics picked up seven national qualifications for the NFA Championship Tournament, including Comley in informative, Henrickson in drama and extemporaneous speaking, Martin in LD debate, Radosevic in extemporaneous speaking, Sopko in communication analysis, and Walker in afterdinner Speaking. After only three tournament weekends, the team already has earned 20 qualifications to nationals.
Truman Forensics will return to competition with the Fall Redbird LD Swing, hosted by Illinois State University Nov.17-18.
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.
