Truman Forensics Union Gives Powerful Performances at Multiple Tournaments
The Truman Forensics Team competed at several locations throughout the region Nov. 6-8, winning two individual tournament championships, a team sweepstakes championship, an individual speaking championship and several other awards.
Bradley University in Peoria, Ill., and the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg hosted two tournaments while the Winston Churchill Museum in Fulton, Mo., served as the venue for a series of commemorative debates.
At the University of Central Missouri tournaments, freshman Matt Gilmore won the novice division while freshman Susan Taylor advanced to the semifinal round. All four competitors also won a speaker award. Gilmore took second place, freshman Katie Koenig took third, Taylor took sixth and freshman Aimee Chau took seventh place.
At the second tournament, Koenig won the novice division after advancing past her teammate, Chau, in semifinals. Koenig also took the first place speaker award. Gilmore took third place and Chau took sixth. The team won the debate sweepstakes trophy, surpassing defending national champions Western Kentucky.
All four competitors earned their qualification to the national tournament.
Members of the team who compete in individual events, or speech events, traveled to Bradley University. Sophomore Andrew Grojean advanced to the semifinals in Prose Interpretation—the largest event with 100 competitors.
Finally, as part of a series of events in commemoration of Winston Churchill and his famous “Iron Curtain” speech, two members of the varsity debate team participated in debates hosted by the Westminster Debate Society. Junior Elizabeth Hatting and sophomore Christian Johns represented Truman, which was one of four universities specially invited for this prestigious event.
Anyone interested in competing in forensics should contact Kristi Scholten, director of the program, at kscholten@truman.edu.
Bradley University in Peoria, Ill., and the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg hosted two tournaments while the Winston Churchill Museum in Fulton, Mo., served as the venue for a series of commemorative debates.
At the University of Central Missouri tournaments, freshman Matt Gilmore won the novice division while freshman Susan Taylor advanced to the semifinal round. All four competitors also won a speaker award. Gilmore took second place, freshman Katie Koenig took third, Taylor took sixth and freshman Aimee Chau took seventh place.
At the second tournament, Koenig won the novice division after advancing past her teammate, Chau, in semifinals. Koenig also took the first place speaker award. Gilmore took third place and Chau took sixth. The team won the debate sweepstakes trophy, surpassing defending national champions Western Kentucky.
All four competitors earned their qualification to the national tournament.
Members of the team who compete in individual events, or speech events, traveled to Bradley University. Sophomore Andrew Grojean advanced to the semifinals in Prose Interpretation—the largest event with 100 competitors.
Finally, as part of a series of events in commemoration of Winston Churchill and his famous “Iron Curtain” speech, two members of the varsity debate team participated in debates hosted by the Westminster Debate Society. Junior Elizabeth Hatting and sophomore Christian Johns represented Truman, which was one of four universities specially invited for this prestigious event.
Anyone interested in competing in forensics should contact Kristi Scholten, director of the program, at kscholten@truman.edu.
