The state champion SIC Forensic Falcons took home a number of trophies from NIU. Pictured are (back row, l-r): Joli Murphy, Kaydee Dycus, Shay Wood, Gabe Motsinger; (middle row, l-r): Shannon Welker, Noah Taylor, Chanse Tullis, Carrice McDaniel; (front row, l-r): Rachael Hooven, Cassidy Maynard, Haley Rushing, Nick Cofield.
Southeastern Illinois College Forensic Falcons stomped the competition March 4-5 to win the state championship speech tournament in the community college division at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. The team was also the only community college in the top five open sweepstakes division, placing alongside four-year institutions such as Bradley University, Northwestern University, Illinois State University, and North Central College.
Southeastern also claimed the top three community college speaker awards at state. Gabe Motsinger (Carrier Mills) earned best overall community college speaker at the tournament. Cassidy Maynard and Rachael Hooven, both from Harrisburg, received second and third respectively. Individual state champion titles went to Carrice McDaniel (Harrisburg), Rachael Hooven (Harrisburg), Cassidy Maynard (Harrisburg), and Shannon Welker (Harrisburg).
Paul Cummins, SIC Director of Forensics, said that the state tournament only allows schools to bring four entries in each event, evening the playing field and making the level of competition exceptionally rigorous.
The team is also coached by Jenny Billman and Dr. Tyler Billman.
Individual results from the tournament are as follows:
Gabe Motsinger, Carrier Mills: Individual sweepstakes champion in the two year division, fourth in open prose, fifth in open duo interpretation (with partner Cassidy Maynard), and sixth in open dramatic interpretation.
Cassidy Maynard, Harrisburg: Tournament champion in communication analysis, second in individual sweepstakes, fourth in open informative speaking, fifth in open duo interpretation (with partner Gabe Motsinger).
Rachael Hooven, Harrisburg: Tournament champion in prose interpretation, tournament champion in dramatic interpretation, fourth in oratory, and sixth in speech to entertain.
Carrice McDaniel, Harrisburg: Tournament champion in oratory, second in speech to entertain, fifth in communication analysis, and sixth in informative speaking.
Shannon Welker, Harrisburg: Tournament champion in impromptu speaking, tournament champion in novice extemporaneous speaking, sixth in open informative speaking.
Shay Wood, Shawneetown: Second in impromptu speaking, second in poetry interpretation, fourth in dramatic interpretation.
Haley Rushing, Marion: Second in prose interpretation, fourth in communication analysis, fourth in informative speaking.
Chanse Tullis, Springerton: Tournament champion in novice communication analysis, fourth in duo interpretation (with partner Joli Murphy, fifth in impromptu speaking.
Nick Cofield, Carrier Mills: Tournament champion in novice impromptu speaking, third in extemporaneous speaking.
Joli Murphy, Springerton: second place in novice speech to entertain, fourth in duo interpretation (with partner Chanse Tullis).
Kaydee Dycus, Mt. Vernon: third in poetry interpretation, fifth in dramatic interpretation.
Noah Taylor, Eldorado: sixth in poetry interpretation.
