The Hastings College Broncos Forensics team is continuing its strong momentum this semester, finishing second in overall team sweepstakes at the Nebraska Intercollegiate Forensics Tournament (NIFA) earlier this month. This was the highest finish at NIFA for the Broncos since they placed second in 2018.
Nikki DeSeriere, a junior from Westminster, Colorado, was named third in overall sweepstakes after competing in the pentathlon.
“The team earned second by one point, so every member of the team and their work mattered,” said Austin McDonald, interim director of forensics. “The team was thrilled to accomplish this and to compete at a rigorous tournament.”
Eight schools competed in the tournament, including Concordia University, Doane University, Midland University, University of Nebraska–Kearney, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, University of Nebraska–Omaha and Wayne State University.
Individual results from the Hastings College competitors are below.
- Betsy Miller, a first year student from Arlington, Kansas, placed fourth in Interstate Oratory.
- Brooklyn Elwood, a sophomore from Sutherland, Nebraska, placed second in Dramatic Interpretation and fourth in Prose Interpretation.
- Nikki DeSeriere, a junior from Westminster, Colorado, placed second in Duo Interpretation with Brendan Kachnowski, a senior from Rock Springs, Wyoming; third in Dramatic Interpretation, fifth in Program Oral Interpretation, sixth in Poetry Interpretation and won third in overall individual sweepstakes.
- Chloe Carson, a senior from Eagan, Minnesota, placed second in Prose Interpretation.
- Sam Johnson, a senior from Hastings, Nebraska, placed second in Extemporaneous Speaking and fourth in Informative Speaking.
- Brendan Kahnowski, a senior from Rock Springs, Wyoming, placed second in Duo Interpretation with Nikki DeSeriere, a junior from Westminster, Colorado; and fourth in Program Oral Interpretation.
Hastings College is a four-year residential college that focuses on student academic and extracurricular achievement. Hastings’ student-centered initiatives include providing books, an iPad and a two-week study away experience at no additional cost. A block-style semester schedule allows professors and students to focus on fewer classes at a time and promotes hands-on experiences. Discover more at hastings.edu.
