The Hastings College Broncos Forensics team moved ahead of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln as the second best forensics team in the state during the Nebraska Intercollegiate Forensics Association (NIFA) State Tournament on February 10. This marks the first time since 2012 that Hastings College earned the second place title at the State Tournament.
Andrew Boge, a senior from Johnston, Iowa, was one of two students from Nebraska chosen to represent the state in the National Interstate Oratory Tournament later this year. Interstate Oratory is a persuasive event in which the speaker has 13 minutes to examine an issue and provide solutions.
Carly Spotts-Falzone, a junior from Wayzata, Minnesota, was named as one of two “Spirit of NIFA” recipients. This honor is awarded to forensics students who represent the kindness, passion and love the Nebraska collegiate circuit prides itself on.
The team placed 18 individual speeches into finals from the preliminary rounds, an unusually high number for a competitive tournament like the Nebraska State Tournament.
The three Bronco seniors — Boge, Kenzie Shofner and Caleb Merritt — were also recognized for their dedication to the activity of forensics.
The Hastings College forensics team will host the Bronco Bash tournament this coming weekend on February 17 and 18 in the Morrison-Reeves Science Center. Rounds will run from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. both days. The event is open for a public audience, and admission as a spectator is free. For more information, contact Dr. Kittie Grace, director of forensics, at kgrace@hastings.edu.
Individual results from the NIFA State Tournament are below.
Saturday, February 10 Results
- Maggie Rogers, a freshman from Birmingham, Alabama, placed as the top novice in After Dinner Speaking.
- Courtney Hansen, a freshman from Brookings, South Dakota, placed as the top novice in Poetry Interpretation.
- Melissa Loney, a sophomore from Omaha, Nebraska, placed sixth in Impromptu Speaking.
- Jadah Morrison, a sophomore from Chaska, Minnesota, placed fifth in Prose Interpretation.
- Alli Kennon, a sophomore from Elko, Minnesota, placed fourth in Informative Speaking, fourth in Duo Interpretation with Nathan Navratil, a sophomore from Lino Lakes, Minnesota, and third in Duo Interpretation with Kenzie Shofner, a senior from Orono, Minnesota.
- Nathan Navratil, a sophomore from Lino Lakes, Minnesota, placed fourth in Duo Interpretation with Alli Kennon, a sophomore from Elko, Minnesota.
- Carly Spotts-Falzone, a junior from Wayzata, Minnesota, placed sixth in Program Oral Interpretation, fourth in Dramatic Interpretation and first in Duo Interpretation with Caleb Merritt, a senior from Brookings, South Dakota.
- Caleb Merritt, a senior from Brookings, South Dakota, placed first in Informative Speaking, fifth in Program Oral Interpretation, fourth in Poetry Interpretation, second in Dramatic Interpretation, and first in Duo Interpretation with Carly Spotts-Falzone, a junior from Wayzata, Minnesota. Merritt also placed second in Individual Sweepstakes, or the pentathlon, for the state tournament.
- Kenzie Shofner, a senior from Orono, Minnesota, placed sixth in Interstate Oratory, fourth in After Dinner Speaking and third in Duo Interpretation with Alli Kennon, a sophomore from Elko, Minnesota.
- Andrew Boge, a senior from Johnston, Iowa, placed first in Extemporaneous Speaking, second in Interstate Oratory and second in Informative 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 12th at AFA-NIET 2017.
Hastings College is a private, four-year institution located in Hastings, Nebraska, that focuses on student academic and extracurricular achievement. With more than 60 majors and 15 pre-professional programs, 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.
