Forensics Team Has Successful Start to Season in Kentucky

The Gustavus Adolphus College forensics team made a strong showing last weekend when it opened its 2014-15 tournament schedule on Sept. 20-21 in Bowling Green, Kentucky at Western Kentucky University’s Fall Fiesta Swing. The Gusties finished in third place in Saturday’s tournament and in first place in Sunday’s tournament, topping teams such as the University of Alabama and Illinois State University in the Team Sweepstakes.

Sunday’s first place performance was thanks in part to senior Brittany Knutson, who competed in six events and advanced to the finals in four of those events. Knutson placed third in the Persuasion category, fourth in Communication Analysis, fifth in Impromptu Speaking, and seventh in Informative Speaking. Making the finals in four events allowed Knutson to finish in third place in Sunday’s individual sweepstakes.

Senior Kate Spaulding placed fifth in Sunday’s individual sweepstakes as she advanced to the finals in three of her events. Spaulding ended up placing fourth in Persuasion, Informative Speaking, and After Dinner Speaking.

Senior Karin Nordin also made it to the finals in three events as she placed fourth in Prose and fifth in Poetry. Nordin also teamed up with junior Wilson Fields to place fifth in Duo Interpretation.

Freshman Alekhya Tallapaka made a big splash in her first collegiate tournament by placing first in After Dinner Speaking.

Other impressive results included junior Kari Roll’s second place finish in After Dinner Speaking, freshman Makenzie Shofner’s third place finish in Prose, Fields’ sixth place finish in Dramatic Interpretation, and sophomore Lizzie Hjelle and freshman Sarah Peterson’s sixth place finish in Duo Interpretation.

Saturday’s highlights included Nordin taking first place in Persuasion, while adding a sixth place finish in Poetry.

Knutson’s Saturday results included a second place finish in Communication Analysis and a sixth place finish in Persuasion.

Fields advanced to the finals in two events on Saturday as he placed fifth in Dramatic Interpretation and sixth in Program Oral Interpretation.

Junior Emily Meyer placed third in Poetry, while Tallapaka took fifth place in After Dinner Speaking.

The Fall Fiesta Swing provided good early-season competition for Gustavus as they went up against competitors from Western Kentucky University, the University of Alabama, Illinois State University, Marshall University and others.

The team will compete again during Homecoming Weekend, on Saturday, Oct. 4, when it hosts The Great Minnesota Get Together tournament.