The Hastings College Forensics team returned to the circuit to compete during two consecutive weekends after taking time off for winter break. The team started the second half of the 2016-17 season off by splitting in half to attend both the Hell Froze Over (HFO) national level tournament in Peoria, Illinois, and the Sleet and Snow Swing at Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska.
The Hastings competitors that attended the HFO tournament placed 14th as a team on Jan. 14, and ninth overall on Jan. 15. Those that attended the Sleet and Snow Swing — a completely first-year member roster — placed second as a team on Jan. 14. The second day of the Snow and Sleet Swing was cancelled due to severe weather conditions.
The Hastings College Forensics team continued season competition on Jan. 21 at the Bill Henderson Invitational at the University of Northern Iowa. A portion of the forensics team opted out of competition to help manage the Kevin Heinemann Memorial Tournament, a high school forensics tournament hosted at Hastings College.
Individual results from the HFO tournament, Sleet and Snow Swing and Bill Henderson Invitational are listed below.
Saturday, January 14 Results (Hell Froze Over Day 1):
- Eunice Adounkpe, a senior from Omaha, Nebraska, placed fifth in Duo Interpretation with Carly Spotts-Falzone, a sophomore from Wayzata, Minnesota.
- Carly Spotts-Falzone, a sophomore from Wayzata, Minnesota, was a semi-finalist in Poetry Interpretation and placed fifth place in Duo Interpretation with Eunice Adounkpe, a senior from Omaha, Nebraska.
- Andrew Boge, a junior from Johnston, Iowa, was next out in Extemporaneous Speaking,
- Alli Kennon, a freshman from Lakeville, Minnesota, was next out in Program Oral Interpretation.
Saturday, January 15 Results (Hell Froze Over Day 2):
- Eunice Adounkpe, a senior from Omaha, Nebraska, placed fourth in Dramatic Interpretation and third in Duo Interpretation with Carly Spotts-Falzone, a sophomore from Wayzata, Minnesota.
- Carly Spotts-Falzone, a sophomore from Wayzata, Minnesota, was a semi-finalist in Dramatic Interpretation, a semi-finalist in Prose Interpretation. Spotts-Falzone also placed third in Duo Interpretation with Eunice Adounkpe, a senior from Omaha, Nebraska.
- Andrew Boge, a junior from Johnston, Iowa, was a semi-finalist in Dramatic Interpretation and next out in Informative Speaking.
- Alli Kennon, a freshman from Lakeville, Minnesota, was next-out in Informative Speaking.
Saturday, January 15 Results (Sleet and Snow Swing Day 1):
- Karina El-Refai, a freshman from Ottertail, Minnesota, placed second in Dramatic Interpretation and fourth in Informative Speaking.
- Nathan Navratil, a freshman from Lino Lakes, Minnesota, placed second in Program Oral Interpretation and third in Prose Interpretation.
- Jadah Morrison, a freshman from Chaska, Minnesota, placed fourth in Persuasion and sixth in Poetry Interpretation.
- Zachry Huffaker, a freshman from Kenesaw, Nebraska, placed third in Persuasion.
- Brook McCurdy, a freshman from Hastings, Nebraska, placed third in Communication Analysis.
- Elizabeth Hansen, a freshman from Fremont, Nebraska, placed third in Dramatic Interpretation and third in Duo Interpretation with Kordell Miller, a freshman from Cresco, Nebraska.
- Kordell Miller, a freshman from Cresco, Nebraska, placed third in Duo Interpretation with Elizabeth Hansen, a freshman from Fremont, Nebraska.
Saturday, January 15 Results (Bill Henderson Invitational Day 1):
- Nathan Navratil, a freshman from Lino Lakes, Minnesota, placed seventh in Poetry Interpretation.
- Kenzie Shofner, a junior from Maple Plain, Minnesota, placed third in After Dinner Speaking and fifth in Impromptu Speaking.
Saturday, January 15 Results (Bill Henderson Invitational Day 2):
- Jadah Morrison, a freshman from Chaska, Minnesota, placed fourth in Persuasion and fifth in Dramatic Interpretation.
- Kenzie Shofner, a junior from Maple Plain, Minnesota, placed third in Impromptu Speaking.
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 15th at AFA-NIET 2016.
