The Hastings College Forensics Team found success on the edge of Nebraska at the Monumental Swing in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, hosted by Western Nebraska Community College.
The team qualified four more events to the American Forensics Association national tournament in April.
Melissa Loney, a junior from Omaha, Nebraska, qualified her Impromptu Speaking and Communication Analysis. Sam Johnson, a first-year student from Hastings, Nebraska, qualified his first event, Impromptu Speaking. Conner Taylor, a first-year student from Omaha, Nebraska, qualified his Dramatic Interpretation.
This is the earliest in three years that each member on the team has qualified at least one event to nationals.
The team is also raising funds to help support its trip to nationals in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The Broncos are accepting donations through the College’s Bronco Boost program, with all donations helping to cover transportation and meal expenses for the team’s journey via charter bus to the American Forensics Association – National Individual Events Tournament (AFA-NIET). This year, AFA-NIET is April 5-7 at the University of Alabama. Their goal is to raise at least $3000 by April 1 at hastings.edu/forensicsboost.
The results from the past weekend are below.
February 2, 2019
- Sam Johnson, a first-year student from Hastings, Nebraska, placed third in Impromptu Speaking and third in Communication Analysis.
- Conner Taylor, a first-year student from Omaha, Nebraska, placed first in Dramatic Interpretation and third in Program Oral Interpretation.
- Chloe Carson, a first-year student from Eagan, Minnesota, placed second in Program Oral Interpretation and fourth in After Dinner Speaking.
- Samantha Burke, a sophomore from Denver, Colorado, placed second in Poetry Interpretation and second in Prose Interpretation.
- Nathan Navratil, a junior from Lino Lakes, Minnesota, placed second in Dramatic Interpretation.
- Jadah Morrison, a junior from Wayzata, Minnesota, placed second in Persuasive Speaking and third in Prose Interpretation.
- Elizabeth Hansen, a junior from Fremont, Nebraska, placed fourth in Informative Speaking, sixth in Impromptu Speaking, and first in Duo Interpretation with Melissa Loney, a junior from Omaha, Nebraska.
- Melissa Loney, a junior from Omaha, Nebraska, placed first in Impromptu Speaking, first in Informative Speaking, first in Communication Analysis, first in Individual Sweepstakes, and first in Duo Interpretation with Elizabeth Hansen, a junior from Fremont, Nebraska.
The team placed first in Team Sweepstakes for the day.
February 3, 2019
- Sam Johnson, a first-year student from Hastings, Nebraska, placed second in Impromptu Speaking, fourth in Communication Analysis, and fifth in Extemporaneous Speaking.
- Conner Taylor, a first-year student from Omaha, Nebraska, placed second in Dramatic Interpretation and fourth in Program Oral Interpretation.
- Chloe Carson, a first-year student from Eagan, Minnesota, placed second in Program Oral Interpretation and third in After Dinner Speaking.
- Samantha Burke, a sophomore from Denver, Colorado, placed second in Poetry Interpretation and fourth in Prose Interpretation.
- Nathan Navratil, a junior from Lino Lakes, Minnesota, placed first in Dramatic Interpretation and fourth in Impromptu Speaking.
- Jadah Morrison, a junior from Wayzata, Minnesota, placed first in Persuasive Speaking and second in Prose Interpretation.
- Elizabeth Hansen, a junior from Fremont, Nebraska, placed first in Informative Speaking and second in Duo Interpretation with Melissa Loney, a junior from Omaha, Nebraska.
- Melissa Loney, a junior from Omaha, Nebraska, placed second in Informative Speaking and first in Duo Interpretation with Elizabeth Hansen, a junior from Fremont, Nebraska.
The team placed first in Team Sweepstakes for the day.
The team will travel to the Nebraska Intercollegiate Forensics Association State Tournament this weekend to defend its numerous state titles.
The Hastings College forensics team continues a long-running tradition of national competitive success, placing in the top 20 at the American Forensics Association National Individual Events Tournament (AFA-NIET) for many of the past ten years. Most recently, Hastings College placed 8th at AFA-NIET 2018.
Hastings College is a private, four-year institution located in Hastings, Nebraska, that focuses on student academic and extracurricular achievement. Hastings College has been named among “Great Schools, Great Prices” by U.S. News & World Report and a “Best in the Midwest” by The Princeton Review. For more, go to hastings.edu.
