The Gustavus forensics team poses with its hardware from the recent Iowa Swing.
The Gustavus Adolphus College forensics team traveled south to Iowa on Jan. 22-23 and brought home two first place team trophies from the University of Northern Iowa Henderson Invitational and the Bob Smith Tournament at Wartburg College, despite strong competition from Illinois State University and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
At the University of Northern Iowa’s Henderson Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 22, Gustavus picked up three first place finishes. First-year students Justin Feit and Shelby Wilds took first place in Dramatic Duo; Junior Sam Hemmerich placed first in Drama Interpretation; and senior Phil Helt took first place in Communication Analysis. Helt also won the overall individual sweepstakes thanks to third place finishes in Extemporaneous Speaking, Impromptu Speaking, and Persuasion, along with a fifth place showing in Informative Speaking.
Results from the UNI Henderson Invitational:
Team Sweepstakes: Gustavus Adolphus, 1st place; Illinois State University, 2nd place; University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 3rd place
Individual Sweepstakes: Phil Helt, 1st place
After Dinner Speaking: Eric Cronin, 4th place; Sam Hemmerich, 5th place
Drama: Sam Hemmerich, 1st place; Kelsey Abele, 5th place
Dramatic Duo: Justin Feit & Shelby Wilds, 1st place; Kate Bissen & Hannah Engel, 4th place
Extemporaneous Speaking: Phil Helt, 3rd place; Chris Moua, 5th place
Impromptu Speaking: Phil Helt, 3rd place; Claire Sagstuen, 4th place; Eric Cronin, 5th place; Kirsten Craft, 6th place
Informative Speaking: Hannah Engel, 2nd place; Phil Helt, 5th place; Shelby Wilds, 6th place
Persuasion: Claire Sagstuen, 2nd place; Phil Helt, 3rd place
Poetry: Chris Moua, 5th place; Kaitlin Burlingame, 6th place
Program Oral Interpretation: Kelsey Abele, 3rd place
At the Bob Smith Tournament at Wartburg College on Sunday, Jan. 23, Hemmerich won the Drama Interpretation event for the second straight day. Claire Sagstuen performed well by winning the Extemporaneous Speaking event and the Individual Sweepstakes.
Results from the Bob Smith Invitational at Wartburg College:
Team Sweepstakes: Gustavus, 1st place; University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 2nd Place; Illinois State University, 3rd place
Individual Sweepstakes: Claire Sagstuen, 1st place; Kate Bissen, 2nd place
After Dinner Speaking: Kate Bissen, 6th place, Phil Helt, 7th place
Communication Analysis: Phil Helt, 4th place
Drama: Sam Hemmerich, 1st place, Kaitlin Burlingame, 6th place
Dramatic Duo: Justin Feit & Shelby Wilds, 2nd place; Kate Bissen & Hannah Engel, 4th place
Extemporaneous Speaking: Claire Sagstuen, 1st place
Impromptu Speaking: Claire Sagstuen, 2nd place; Chris Moua, 5th place
Informative Speaking: Kate Bissen, 3rd place; Eric Cronin, 4th place
Persuasion: Phil Helt, 3rd place; Kate Bissen, 4th place; Chris Moua, 6th place
Poetry: Kelsey Abele, 3rd place; Mariecus Jarvis, 6th place
Program Oral Interpretation: Sam Hemmerich, 2nd place; Kaitlin Burlingame, 3rd place; Mariecus Jarvis, 4th place
The team will now travel to Bradley University in Peoria, Ill., for tournaments on Jan. 29-30. For more information about the Gustavus forensics team, go online to gustavus.edu/go/forensics.
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Media Contact: Director of Media Relations and Internal Communication Luc Hatlestad
luch@gustavus.edu
507-933-7510