Forensic Falcons Earn Team Gold at Nationals

The Southeastern Illinois College Forensic Falcons earned a gold medal in team individual events competition and second gold in overall competition at the 2019 Phi Rho Pi National Tournament in Reno, Nevada. They ended the season with a second place rank in the Wyman division, the community college tournament’s largest division.

Individual speech competitors from SIC brought home four gold, seven silver, and 15 bronze medals in their events. Two SIC students placed among the top five individual competitors at the tournament. Sophomore Angelica Harrelson (Eldorado) finished fourth in the nation in individual sweepstakes. Sophomore Braden Cummins (Carrier Mills) placed fifth.

“I am thrilled with the performance of this team,” noted Paul Cummins, Director of Forensics. “They worked hard, and they realized their potential.”

Cummin’s fellow coaches, Dr. Tyler Billman and Jenny Billman, agreed.

“I am proud of them and who they’ve become this year,” noted Dr. Billman.

The 2019 national tournament marks the end of the Falcons’ 2018-19 season, which also included both a state and regional championship. SIC’s Forensic Falcons have a long history of success, placing first in overall national competition in 1986, 1997, and 2005.

Individual results from the tournament are as follows.

Angelica Harrelson (Eldorado): Gold in Communication Analysis, Silver in Duo Interpretation, Bronze in Dramatic Interpretation, Bronze in Prose Interpretation

Braden Cummins (Carrier Mills): Gold in Program Oral Interpretation, Gold in Duo Interpretation (with partner Cheriaca Huntley), Silver in Poetry Interpretation

Cheriaca Huntley (Carrier Mills): Gold in Duo Interpretation (with partner Braden Cummins), Gold in Poetry Interpretation, Bronze in Program Oral Interpretation

Kenzee Dycus (Mount Vernon): Silver in Communication Analysis, Bronze in Poetry Interpretation, Bronze in Informative Speaking, Bronze in Persuasive Speaking

Tiffany Turner (Galatia): Silver in Dramatic Interpretation, Bronze in Persuasive Speaking, Bronze in Poetry Interpretation

Tucker Murphy (Golconda): Silver in Duo Interpretation, Bronze in Poetry Interpretation, Bronze in Speech to Entertain

Jasmine Teston (Harrisburg): Silver in Dramatic Interpretation, Bronze in Communication Analysis, Bronze in Prose Interpretation

Donovyn Valdez (Carrier Mills): Bronze in Impromptu Speaking, Bronze in Prose Interpretation, Bronze in Informative Speaking

Billy Lewis (Carrier Mills): Silver in Prose Interpretation

Jacob Rice (Marion): Bronze in Impromptu Speaking

Christian Murray (Harrisburg): Bronze in Impromptu Speaking

Also representing SIC at nationals were Bradley Hydrick (Carmi), Paige Clore (Norris City), and Emma Bradley (Eldorado).

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