This past weekend the Hastings College Forensics team competed in the three-day National Preview that was held at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, which is also the host school for the AFA-NIET tournament in April. The National Preview tournament is a chance for competitors to experience competition similar to that at the national tournament.

The team received 3rd place on the second day of the tournament. Junior Corey Reutlinger, Lexington, Neb., added Poetry Interpretation for the AFA-NIET, his 4th qualifying event, and junior Mike Dvorak, Muskogee, Okla., picked up a championship in Communication Analysis.

Friday and Saturday, February 4th and 5th
Senior Curt Casper, Lexington, Neb. 2nd in Persuasive Speaking
 6th in Dramatic Interpretation

Junior Corey Reutlinger, Lexington, Neb. 4th in Program Oral Interpretation

Sophomore Hannah Davis, Grand Island, Neb. 4th in Dramatic Interpretation

First-year Jared Buskirk, Holdrege, Neb. 5th in Impromptu Speaking

Sunday, February 6th
Junior Mike Dvorak, Muskogee, Okla. 1st in Communication Analysis

Junior Corey Reutlinger, Lexington, Neb. 2nd in Poetry Interpretation

Junior Aaron Geringer, Wheatland, Wyo. 3rd in Poetry Interpretation

Junior Makayla Jones, Grand Island, Neb. 6th in Communication Analysis

Sophomore Trevor Brass, Lincoln, Neb. 3rd in Communication Analysis
 5th in Extemporaneous Speaking

First-year Jose Jimenez, Lexington, Neb. 5th in Dramatic Interpretation

First-year Jenny Linne, Bailey, Colo. 7th in Duo Interpretation (w/Lemmer)
 First-year Jackie Lemmer, Atkinson, Neb. 7th in Duo Interpretation (w/ Linne)

The team took 3rd place in Team Sweepstakes.

The Bronco Forensics team has always seen national success at the American Forensics Association-National Individual Events Tournament (AFA-NIET). The team has been ranked in the Top 20 for 11 of the last 12 years and in the Top 15 for five of the last six years. The team has had 11 Individual Sweepstakes Award Winners since 1990. Since 1998, 43 students have achieved a quarterfinal at the AFA-NIET, 21 students have advanced to semifinals, 13 students have placed in finals at nationals and four speeches have achieved championships. Six students have been named to the AFA-All American Team placing Hastings College third in the nation for number of students with this honor. The team is ranked as the number one undergraduate college for the last decade at the AFA-NIET (Sternhagen, 2010).

The AFA-NIET will be held at the University of Nebraska-Kearney on April 1-3, 2011.

Hastings College, founded in 1882, is a private, four-year liberal arts institution affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). A total of 64 majors in 32 areas of study and 12 pre-professional programs are offered to more than 1,190 students. Hastings College was named among “America’s Best National Liberal Arts Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report, a “Best in the Midwest” by The Princeton Review, and a “Best Buy in College Education” by Barron’s. Visit www.hastings.edu for more information.

For more information, contact Kittie Grace at (402) 461-461-7385.